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SHAWMUT, 

THK S ITK 01 BOSTON 



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SHAWMUT: 



OR 



TIIE SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON 



BY 



THE PURITAN PILGRIMS 



Ck« 






Like Israel's host to exile driven, 
Across the flood the Pilgrims fled ; 

Theii hands bore up the ark of Heaven, 
And Heaven their trusting footsteps led, 

Till on these savage shores they trod, 

And won the wilderness for God. — I'ierpoxt. 



BOSTON: 
CHARLES WAITE 

1847. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, 

Br Waite, Peirce and Company', 
in the Clerk's Office of the District of Massachusetts. 



^\ 



<* 



PREFACE. 



The following pages are designed particularly for 
the young, in the belief, that they ought to be con- 
stantly impressed with the origin of our nation. No 
city, especially, ever had a more sacred foundation 
than our favorite Capital. The ground on which we 
dwell is holy ground, consecrated to Christ by our 
pious ancestors, who came thither that they might 
more fully enjoy for themselves, and transmit to pos- 
terity, the religion of the Bible. The settlement of 
Shawmut is a type of the colonization of nearly all 
the Atlantic States, and especially of New England, 
which originated from similar causes, and was con- 
ducted in a similar manner. It is remarkable, also, 
that the elements of our present unrivalled civilization 
were, in some form, revealed in the very beginning 
of the settlement ; some of these elements were, in- 
deed, in conflict with ancient prejudices and the 
errors of the age ; but Providence so ordered, that 
in proccs3 of time they became developed, and now 
1* 



6 PREFACE. 

give substance and shape to society. These elements 
are inherent in the Gospel, and will ever manifest 
themselves where the Gospel is freely examined and 
proclaimed. 

In preparing this worlr, the author has consulted 
the best authorities, recent and remote, such as Win- 
throp's Journal, Dudley's letter, Mather's Mignalia, 
Bancroft's History of the U. States, Snow's History 
of Boston, and others mentioned in the body of the 
work. He has aimed at giving- the book an unques- 
tionable historical value, and is not conscious of com- 
municating to it the slightest tinge of sectarian pre- 
judice. Where the thread of the narrative would 
allow it, he has preferred to quote the very words of 
such authors as were eye-witnesses and actors in the 
scenes which they describe. 



CONTENTS. 

Pagp. 
Chapter T. — Causes of the Emigration to America, 9 

Chapter II. — The first Visit of Europeans to the 
Regions about Shawmut. Description of the 
Country, 17 

Chapter III.— The first Settler of Shawmut, . 27 

Chapter IV.— Winthrop Colony — their Settle- 
ment at Shawmut, 31 

Chapter V. — The Father of Boston. Lady 

Arabella. Devastating- Sickness, ... 51 

Chapter VI. — Organization of the First Church. 
Religious Customs. Portraitures of Rev. 
Mr. Cotton and Rev. Mr. Wilson, ... 55 

Chapter VII.— The Civil Polity. Roger Wil- 
liams. Portraitures of the Governor and 
Deputy Governor, . . : 79 

Chapter VIII. — Free Schools. Harvard Uni- 
versity, S3 

Chapter IX. — The Aborigines. Missionary 
labors among them. The Apostle of the 
Indians, 97 

Chapter X. — Picture of the Settlement at 

Shawmut. View from Beacon Hill, . . 115 

Chapter XI. — Conclusion, 155 

Atpejmdix. — First Town Records, .... 133 



SHAWMUT. 



CHAPTER I. 

CAUSES OF THE EMIGRATION TO AMERICA. 

When England had finally freed her neck 
from the yoke of Popery, in the reign of Eliza- 
beth, there were three religious parties in the 
land, — the papists, the friends of the church of 
England, and the dissenters, or those who 
wished a greater simplicity in the ceremonies 
and usages of religion. The latter party were 
called Puritans, and from them descended our 
ancestors. Elizabeth took middle ground be- 
tween popery and puritanism, and determined 
to make all her subjects conform to her views 
upon peril of severe penalties. A court was 
established similar to the Papal inquisition, 



10 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

called the court of high commission, with power 
to search out the crime of non-conformity, and 
punish at discretion with fines and imprison- 
ments. At this tyrannical tribunal, men were 
compelled to answer, on oath, all inquiries, 
whether against themselves or others. In her 
general purpose, Elizabeth was followed by her 
successor, James I., whose proscriptive mea- 
sures were not executed., indeed, by the sword 
and faggot, as in her reign, but by the forfeiture 
of property, liberty and peace. 

A petition for redress of grievances, signed 
by a million of names, was presented to him on 
his way to London to take the throne, which 
induced him to call a conference at Hampden 
court. Here he exhibited his real character and 
purposes. "The conference," says Bancroft, 
" was distinguished on the part of the king by a 
strenuous vindication of the church of England. 
Refusing to discuss the question of the power 
of the church, in things indifferent, he substi- 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. II 

ttited authority for argument, and where he 
could not produce conviction, demanded obe- 
dience. ' I will have none of this liberty of 
conscience as to ceremonies. I will have one 
doctrine, one discipline, one religion in sub- 
stance and in ceremony. Never speak more to 
that point, how far you are bound to obey.' 

" The Puritans desired permission occasionally 
to assemble, and at their meetings to have the 
liberty of free discussions ; but the king, prompt 
to discern that concession in religion would be 
followed by greater political liberty, interrupted 
the petition, * You are aiming at a Scot's pres- 
bytery, which agrees with monarchy as well as 
God and the Devil. When Jack, and Tom, 
and Will, and Dick shall meet, and at their 
pleasure censure me and my council, and all 
our proceedings. When Will shall stand up 
and say, it must be thus, then Dick shall reply 
and say, Nay, marry but we will have it thus ; 
and therefore, here I must reiterate my former 



12 SIIAWMUT, OR THE 

speech and say, Le roi s 1 aviscra; the king 
alone shall decide.' Turning to the Bishops 
he avowed his belief that the hierarchy was the 
firmest support of the throne. Of the Puritans 
he said, ' I will make them conform, or I will 
hurry them out of the land, or else worse, only 
hang them, that's all.' " This closed the day's 
debate. Is it any wonder after this that proc- 
lamation was issued against the Puritans, and 
that in a single year, A. D. 1634, three hundred 
faithful ministers were silenced, imprisoned, or 
banished from the land. 

All this time the great body of the Puritans 
remained persecuted and oppressed members 
of the church of England, and only contended 
for reform, not for separation. But before the 
death of Elizabeth, there was in the north of 
England a congregation of separatists, who de- 
termined, " whatever it might cost them, as the 
Lord's free people, to join themselves by cove- 
nant into a church state." This was the church 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 13 

of Robinson, which, after various fortunes, is 
now perpetuated in the town of Plymouth, the 
first church in New England, and the pioneer 
of American liberty. Unable to endure the 
persecution which distressed them in their na- 
tive land, they resolved to exile themselves to 
Holland. For the first effort to escape they 
were arrested and some of them thrown into 
prison ; but they renewed the attempt the fol- 
lowing spring. In the darkness of the night 
they secretly assembled on the desolate coasts 
of Lincolnshire, and in a howling tempest em- 
barked in their boats for the ship that was wait- 
ing to bear them from their native land. The 
men ventured first to encounter the perils of 
the surf, and before they could return to take 
the women and children, the tramp of horsemen 
in pursuit was heard, and the poor weeping and 
terrified wives and daughters were apprehended. 
Deeply afflicted, but without power to change 
their lot, the men set sail and left their families 
2 



14 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

in the custody of the magistrates, probably not 
without hope, that there would be justice enough 
in England, not to punish women and children 
for wishing to accompany their husbands and 
fathers in their exile. This was the result, for 
the civil authorities, not knowing how to bring 
a charge against them, and having no place to 
famish them for a prison or a home, found 
them an awkward incumbrance on their hands, 
and were quite willing to let them go and re- 
join their friends. 

The emigrants landed at Amsterdam, but 
afterwards removed to Ley den, where they re- 
mained eleven years, before they determined to 
embark for America. In 1620, the Mayflower 
was on her way with the first company of pil- 
grims, and they were landed at Plymouth on 
the 22d of December. 

Their destination was the mouth of the Hud- 
son river, where New York is now, but through 
the ignorance or knavish design of the Captain, 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 15 

they were turned out of their course, and 
brought in the dead of winter to the most bar- 
ren and inhospitable part of Massachusetts. 
Had they wandered a little further north, they 
would have come to Boston harbor, and found 
more comfortable quarters. This they found 
out when it was too late to remove the colony. 
Providence had prepared another goodly vine 
to be planted there. 



CHAPTER II. 

THE FIRST VISITS OF EUROPEANS TO THE REGIONS 
ABOUT SHAWMUT. DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. 

Six years before the landing of the pilgrims 
at Plymouth, the whole eastern coast of New 
England had been explored by the celebrated 
Capt. John Smith, in an open boat, with eight 
men. His interesting account of it induced 
the king. Charles I., to honor the country with 
the name of New England. Of the region 
abont Boston he speaks with enthusiasm, though 
restrained from making so thorough an exami- 
nation of it as he otherwise would, by learning 
that the French had been there six weeks be- 
fore and had secured the trade of the Indians. 
" The country of the Massachusetts," says 
Smith, " is the paradise of all these parts ; for 
here are many isles all planted with corn, 
groves, mulberries, savage gardens, and good 
2* 



18 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

harbors ; the coast is, for the most part, high, 
clayey, sandy cliffs. The sea coast as you pass, 
shows you all along large corn-fields and great 
troops of well proportioned people ; but the 
French having remained near six weeks, left 
nothing for us to take occasion to examine the 
statements of the inhabitants, whether there be 
near three thousand people, and that the river 
doth pierce many days' journey the entrails of 
the country. We found the people in these 
parts very kind, but in their fury no less valiant. 
For upon a quarrel we had with one of them, 
he only with three others crossed the harbor of 
Quonahasset to certain rocks whereby we must 
pass, and there let fly their arrows for our shot, 
till we were out of danger." This is the first 
account we have of any civilized man touching 
at these shores. 

An exploring party from Plymouth colony 
was sent out the next year after their landing, 
A. D. 1621, for the purpose of viewing the 
country, and to form acquaintance and make 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 19 

treaties with the natives. One of their party 
has given the following particulars respecting 
the expedition. " It seemed good to the com- 
pany in general, that though the Massachu- 
setts had often threatened us, as we were in- 
formed, yet we should go among them, partly 
to see the country, partly to make peace with 
them, and partly to procure their truck. For 
these ends the government chose ten men, fit 
for the purpose, and sent Tisquantum (a native 
chief) and two other savages to bring us to 
speech with the people, and interest for us. On 
the 18th of September, about midnight, the tide 
then serving us, we supposing it to be nearer 
than it is, thought to be there before the next 
morning betimes ; but it proved well near 
twenty leagues from New Plymouth. We came 
into the bottom of the bay, but being late, we 
anchored and lay in our shallop, not having 
seen any of the people. • The next morning we 
found many lobsters that had been gathered by 
the savages, which we made ready under a cliff, 



20 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

(supposed to be Copp's Hill.) The captain sent 
two sentinels behind the cliff to the landward to 
secure the shallop, and taking a guide with him 
and four of our company, went to seek the in- 
habitants, when they met a woman coming for 
the lobsters. They told her of them, and con- 
tented her for them. She told them where the 
people were ; Tisquantum went to seek them ; 
the rest returned, having direction which way 
to bring the shallop to them. 

"The sachem or governor of this place is 
called Obbatinewat, and though he live in the 
bottom of the Massachusetts bay, yet he is 
under Massasoyt. He used us very kindly; he 
told us he durst not remain in any settled place 
for fear of the Tarentines. Also the squaw 
sachem, or Massachusetts queen, was an enemy 
to him. We told him of divers sachems that 
had acknowledged themselves to be kin^ Jam©s* 
men, and if he would submit himself, we would 
be safeguard from his enemies; which he did, 
and went along with us to bring us to the 
squaw sachem. 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 21 

" Again we crossed the bay, which is very 
large, and hath at least fifty islands in it, but 
the certain number is not known to the inhabi- 
tants. Night it was before we came to that 
side of this bay where this people were. That 
night also we rid at anchor aboard the shallop. 
On the morrow we went ashore all but two 
men, and marched in arms up the country. 
Having gone three miles, we came to a place 
where corn had been newly gathered, a house 
pulled down, and the people gone. A mile 
from hence Nanepashemet their king in his 
life-time had lived. His house was not like 
others, but a scaffold was largely built, with 
poles and planks, some six foot from the 
ground, and the house upon that, being situated 
upon the top of a hill. 

" Not far from hence, in a bottom, we came 
to a fort built by their deceased king, the man- 
ner thus ; there were poles some thirty or forty 
foot long, stuck in the ground as thick as they 
could be set one by another, and with this they 



'4TA SHAWMUT, OR THE 

enclosed a ring some forty and fifty foot over. 
A trench, breast high, was digged on each side; 
one way there was to go into it with a bridge. 
In the midst of this palisade stood the frame of 
an house, wherein being dead he lay buried. 

" About a mile from hence we came to such 
another, but seated on the top of an hill ; here 
Nanepashemet was killed ; none dwelling in it 
since his death. At this place we staid, and 
sent two savages to the inhabitants, and to in- 
form them of our ends in coming, that they 
might not be fearful of us. Within a mile of 
this place we found the women of the place 
together, with their corn in heaps, whither we 
supposed them to be fled for fear of us, and the 
more, because in divers places they had newly 
pulled down their houses, and for haste in one 
place had left some of their corn, covered with 
a mat, and nobody with it. 

" With much fear they entertained us at first, 
but seeing our gentle carriage towards them, 
they took heart, and entertained us in the best 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 23 

manner they could, boiling cod and such other 
things as they had for us. At length, with 
much sending for, came one of their men, 
shaking and trembling with fear. But when 
he saw that we intended them no hurt, but 
came to truck, he promised us with his skins 
also. Of him we inquired for their queen, but 
it seemed she was far from thence, at least we 
could not see her. Here Tisquantum would 
have us rifled the savage women, and taken 
their skins, and all such things as might be 
serviceable for us ; for (said he) they are a bad 
people, and have oft threatened you ; but our 
answer was, were they never so bad, we would 
not wrong them, or give them any just occasion 
against us ; for their words we little weighed 
them; but if they once attempted any thing 
against us, then we would deal far worse than 
he desired. Having well spent the day, we 
returned to the shallop, almost all the women 
accompanying us to the shore. We promised 



24 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

them to come again to them, and they to us, to 
keep their skins. 

" Within this bay, the savages say, there are 
two rivers; the one whereof we saw, having a 
fair entrance, but we had no time to discover 
it. Better harbors for shipping cannot be than 
here are. At the entrance of the bay are many 
rocks, and in all likelihood good fishing ground. 
Many, yea, most of the islands have been in- 
habited, some being cleared from end to end, 
but the people are all dead or removed. Our 
victual growing scarce, the wind coming fair, 
and having a light moon, we set out at evening, 
and through the goodness of God, came safely 
home before noon the day following, with a 
considerable quantity of beaver and a good re- 
port of the place, wishing we had been seated 
there." 

As seen from Charlestown, Boston at this 
time had the appearance of a tongue of land 
running into the harbor, swelling into three 
high hills. One at the north, now called Copp's 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 25 

hill ; one at the east, now Fort hill ; another 
forming the whole western extremity of the 
place, now called Beacon hill. On the largest 
hill were three lofty eminences, and on the 
easternmost of these were three little rising 
hillocks in a continuous range. These circum- 
stances put together gave the first European 
name to the place, which was Tri-mountain. 
The Indian name was Shawmut, which means, 
as has been supposed, living fountains, and was 
given on account of the springs of water which 
abounded here, to which the Indians resorted 
in their canoes when there was a season of 
drought. One of these perpetual springs is 
seen on the Common, called Frog Pond. After 
the removal of the colony, by order of the court, 
September 7, 163D, the place was called Boston, 
in honor of their second minister, Rev. John 
Cotton, who was then expected from Boston in 
England. 

At another point of view, Boston presented 
the appearance of two peninsulas, north and 
3 



26 SHAWMUT. 

south, connected by a very narrow neck of 
land, somewhere near Blackstone street; and 
when the tide was high, it looked like two 
islands. The long, narrow isthmus by which 
the whole was connected to the main land, was 
at the south end, now called the Neck. The 
peninsula was almost destitute of trees, like the 
most of the islands. The soil was good, and 
easily cultivated, but afforded little meadow for 
pastures. Such was Boston before it became 
the habitation of civilized man. 



CHAPTER III. 

THE FIRST SETTLER OF SHAWMUT. 

The first settler of Shawmut was Mr. William 
Blackstone. He probably came over with the 
company under Endicott, who settled at Salem, 
as we shall see in the course of the narrative. 
Mr. Blackstone built him a cottage at a point 
somewhere near Leverett street, not very far 
from Cragie's bridge, and became sole proprie- 
tor of the whole peninsula, which was after- 
wards bought of him. Here he lived nine or 
ten years, and saw the foundation of society 
laid. He was a very eccentric character. He 
was an ordained minister of the English church, 
but holding puritan sentiments, he preferred to 
enjoy them unmolested in the wilderness. He 
loved his liberty so well, that he would not con- 
nect himself with the church established here. 
He said, " I came from England because I did 



28 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

not like the Lord-Bishops : and I cannot join 
with you, because I would not be under the 
Lord-Brethren." He retained nothing while 
here of his ministerial character but his canon- 
ical coat. He devoted himself to the cultivation 
of the six acres of land which he retained in 
his possession, and planted there, it is said, the 
first orchard of apple-trees in New England. 
It is supposed that he left Boston, because he 
was annoyed by the strict sectarian laws that 
were established by the colony, and banished 
himself again to the wilderness, in a place now 
called Cumberland, on the banks of Pawtucket 
river. Here he built his house in the midst of 
a park, planted an orchard near it, and divided 
his time between study and labor. He called 
his rural retreat Study hill, and made it his 
permanent residence until the day of his death, 
which happened May 26, 1675, two years after 
he had buried his wife. He was a man of a 
kind and benevolent heart ; and when he went 
to Providence to preach, which he did occa- 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 29 

sionally, notwithstanding his disagreement in 
opinion with Roger Williams, he would carry 
with him some of his beautiful apples as a pres- 
ent to the children, who never had seen such 
fruit before. Indeed, the kind called yellow 
sweetings, were first produced from his orchard ; 
and the older inhabitants, who had seen apples 
in England, had not before seen that sort. His 
eccentricity is seen in the fact, that he used, in 
his old age, to ride into Providence on a bull, 
which, for want of a horse, he had trained for 
that purpose. " The death of this venerable 
pilgrim," says the historian, " was at a critical 
period, the beginning of an Indian war. His 
estate was deserted, and his house burnt by the 
natives. His library, which contained 186 
volumes, from folios to pamphlets, shared the 
same fate. His family is now extinct. A flat 
stone marks his grave on Study hill ; but we 
hope and trust the musing stranger will here- 
after find his name on some marble tablet of 
historical inscriptions, erected by the munificent 
3* 



30 SHAWMUT. 

hand of some Bostonian." And I will add, in 
the city of Boston, which, for a short time, was 
called for him Blackstone Neck, on the very 
spot where he erected the first Christian dwell- 
ing place. 

Such was the first settler of Boston. Who 
followed him? 



CHAPTER IV. 

WINTHROP COLONY — THEIR SETTLEMENT AT SHAWMUT. 

In persecuting dissenters, Charles I. walked 
in the steps of his father. The court of high 
commission, stimulated by the superstitious zeal 
of the intolerant Archbishop Laud, continued 
to exercise despotic sway over the religious 
faith and practices of the people. Ministers, 
magistrates, persons in every station of life sus- 
pected of deviations from the rites arid obser- 
vances of religion established by law, were 
arrested, and compelled to bear witness against 
themselves. This continued until the spirit of 
liberty in the nation arose in a storm of opposi- 
tion, and overwhelmed the king and his coun- 
sellors, the national church and the throne itself, 
in common ruin. Meanwhile the eyes of many 
who were persecuted for conscience' sake, were 
turned for refuge to the wilderness across the 



32 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

deep, whither the pilgrims from Holland had 
led the way. The name of the Rev. John 
White, minister of Dorchester in England, will 
be held in grateful remembrance so long as 
New England remains the asylum of liberty. 
Discerning in the settlement at Plymouth the 
dawning of a brighter day for true religion on 
earth, he devoted himself to the enterprize of 
extending the colonization of these shores by 
Christian communities. The first movement, 
like almost all such beginnings, was disastrous. 
Mr. Roger Conant, formerly connected with 
the Plymouth colony, led forth a little company 
from Nantasket to Cape Ann, and from thence 
to Salem. Here his companions, disheartened 
by the difficulties and perils of their situation, 
deserted him, with the exception of three per- 
sons. To these Mr. White wrote, entreating 
them to hold fast until he could send out a re- 
enforcement and supplies of provision from 
England. In 1628, the council of Plymouth, 
in England, sold to six distinguished gentlemen 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 33 

of Dorchester, a tract extending three miles 
south of the Charles River, and three miles 
north of the Merrimack, and stretching from 
the Atlantic to the Pacific. To these proprie- 
tors were joined, by the indefatigable exertion 
of Mr. White, many other persons, some of 
whom were men of large fortune and elevated 
rank, and all breathed a spirit of holy ardor to 
promote the kingdom of Christ in the new 
world. Among the new associates were Win- 
throp, Dudley and Johnson, names destined to 
be forever honored in the history of Boston. 
The company thus formed, immediately began 
the work of emigration. Mr. John Endicctt, 
one of the six original proprietors, was first sent 
forth with a small colony to join the forlorn 
hope at Salem, under the brave and magnan- 
imous Con ant. 

In the course of the summer succeeding their 
arrival, three brothers by the name of Sprague, 
accompanied by a few others, made an explor- 
ing tour to the westward. Penetrating the 



34 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

woods about twelve miles from Salem, they 
came to a neck of land between two rivers, 
running into the bay, called by the Indians, 
Mishawum. Here, to their surprise, they found 
one English cottage, thatched and palisaded, 
situated near the river at the south side of the 
west hill. It was owned by Thomas Walford, 
a blacksmith, whose services and good conduct 
had procured him the favor and protection of 
the Indian sachem. They had no difficulty in 
getting permission to settle in this place. It 
was afterwards called Charlestown, in honor of 
the king. 

The next year, 1629, a large company, con- 
sisting of three hundred and sixty souls, under 
the pastoral care of Rev. Francis Higginson, 
arrived in Salem. Of this company about one 
hundred removed to Charlestown. 

These expeditions awakened an interest 
throughout the puritan population of England. 
Efforts had been made to obtain a charter for 
this company under the royal seal, which, after 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 35 

some delay, was granted March 4, 1629. By 
this charter the company was made a body 
politic, by the name of the Governor and Com- 
pany of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. 
The government was to be administered by a 
governor, deputy governor, and eighteen assist- 
ants, who were to be chosen annually by the 
members of the company. It was proposed 
that the charter should be transferred with the 
emigrants to the colony, so that the government 
might be administered on the spot. This was 
a momentous proposition, involving great polit- 
ical consequences, and was felt by many lead- 
ing members of the corporation to be a suffi- 
cient inducement to emigrate with their fami- 
lies. After serious debate, it was agreed to by 
general consent. By this act the company in 
effect was to become " an independent pro- 
vincial government." Was it legal? It was 
but an agreement to hold the legal meetings of 
the corporation in Massachusetts, rather than 



36 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

in England ; and in the sequel it was so allowed 
by the English courts. 

This decision acted like a charm. Swarms 
of families now offer to emigrate. During the 
season, about fifteen hundred persons embarked 
in fourteen vessels, to form a new plantation in 
Massachusetts. This was the largest cclony 
that ever left the old world for America. Mr. 
John Winthrop was elected governor, and Mr. 
Thomas Dudley deputy governor. Mr. Win- 
throp kept a journal of every important event 
from his first embarking in 1639, to the year 
1644. The following will be interesting as his 
first entry : 

" Anno Domini 1630, March 29th, Monday. 
Riding at the Covves, near the Isle of Wight, 
in the Arabella, a ship of 350 tons, whereof 
Captain Peter Milburne was master, being 
manned with 52 seamen and 28 pieces of ord- 
nance. The wind coming to the N. by W. the 
evening before ; in the morning there came 
aboard us, Mr. Cradock, the late governor, and 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 37 

the master of his two ships, Captain John Love, 
master of the Ambrose, and Mr. Nicholas 
Thurlston, master of the Jewel, and Mr. Thom- 
as Beacher, master of the Talbot, which three 
ships then rode by us ; the Charles, the May- 
flower, the William and Frances, the Hopewell, 
the Whale, the Success, the Trial, being at 
Hampton, and not ready. When, upon con- 
ference, it was agreed, that in regard it was 
uncertain when the rest of the fleet would be 
ready, four ships should consort together ; the 
Arabella to be admiral, the Talbot vice admiral, 
the Ambrose rear admiral, and the Jewel a 
captain ; and accordingly articles of consortship 
were drawn between the said captain and mas- 
ter ; whereupon Mr. Cradock took leave of us, 
and our captain gave him a farewell with four 
or five shot. About ten of the clock we weigh- 
ed anchor and set sail, with the wind at the 
N., and came to an anchor again over against 
Yarmouth, and the Talbot weighed likewise, 
and came and anchored by us." 
4 



38 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

While waiting for favorable winds in the 
harbor cf Yarmouth, they prepared and pub- 
lished an afFectionate farewell to their native 
country. 

" The humble request of his majesty's loyal 
subjects, the governor and the company, late 
gene for New England, to the rest of their 
brethren in the Church of England. 

" Reverend Fathers and Brethren : — The 
general rumor of this solemn enterprise, wherein 
ourselves, with others, through the providence 
of the Almighty, are engaged, as it may spare 
us the labor of imparting our occasion unto 
you, so it gives us the more encouragement to 
strengthen ourselves by the procurement cf the 
prayers and blessings of the Lord's faithful ser- 
vants ; for which end we are bold to have re- 
course unto you, as those whom God hath 
placed nearest his throne of mercy, which, as 
it affords you the more opportunity, so it im- 
poseth the greater bond upon you to intercede 
for his people in all their straits : we beseech 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON 39 

you, therefore, by the mercies of the Lord Je» 
sus, to consider us as your brethren, standing 
in very great need of your help, and earnestly 
imploring it. And howsoever your charily may 
have met with some occasion of discourage- 
ment, through the misreport of our intentions, 
cr through the disaffection or indiscretion of 
some of us, or rather, among us — for we are 
not of those that dream of perfection in this 
world — yet we desire you would be pleased to 
take notice of the principles and body of our 
company, as those who esteem it our honor to 
call the Church of England, from whence w 
risp, our dear mother, and cannot part from 
our native country, where she specially resideth 
without much sadness of heart, and many tears 
in our eyes ; ever acknowledging that such 
hope and part as we have obtained in the com- 
mon salvation, we have received in her bosom, 
and sucked it from her breasts : we leave it not, 
therefore, as loathing that milk wherewith we 
were nourished there, but, blessing God for the 



40 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

parentage and education, as members of the 
same body, shall always rejoice in her good, 
and unfeignedly grieve for any sorrow that shall 
ever betide her ; and while we have breath, 
sincerely desire and endeavor the continuance 
and abundance of her welfare, with the enlarge- 
ment of her bounds in the kingdom of Christ 
Jesus. 

" Be pleased, therefore, fathers and brethren, 
to help forward this work now in hand, which, 
if it prosper, you shall be the more glorious ; 
howsoever, your judgment is with the Lord, 
and your reward with your God. It is a usual 
and laudable exercise of your charity to com- 
mend to the prayers of your congregations, the 
necessities and straits of your private neigh- 
bors : do the like for a church springing out 
of your own bowels. We conceive much hope 
that this remembrance of us, if it be frequent 
and fervent, will be a most prosperous gale in 
our sails, and provide such a passage and wel- 
come for us from the God of the whole earth, 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 41 

as both we shall find it, and yourselves, with 
the rest of our friends who shall hear cf it, shall 
be much enlarged to bring in such daily returns 
cf thanksgivings as the specialities cf His provi- 
dence and goodness may justly challenge at our 
hands. You are net ignorant that the Spirit 
of Gcd stirred up the apostle Paul to make 
continual mention cf the church of Philippi, 
(which was a colony from Rome.) Let the 
same Spirit, we beseech ycu, put you in mind, 
that are the Lord's remembrancers, to pray for 
us without ceasing, (who are a weak eoleny 
from yourselves,) making continual request for 
us to God in all your prayers. 

" What we entreat of you that are the minis- 
ters of Gcd, that we also crave at the hands of 
all the rest cf our brethren, that they would at 
no time forget us in their private solicitations 
at the throne of grace. 

" If any there be who, through want of clear 
intelligence of our course, or tenderness of 
affection towards us, cannot conceive so well 
4* 



42 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

of us as we could desire, we would entreat such 
not to despise us ; nor to desert us in their 
prayers and affections ; but to consider rather 
that they are so much the more bound to ex- 
press the bowels of their compassion towards 
us, remembering always that both nature and 
grace doth ever bind us to relieve and rescue, 
with our utmost and speediest power, such as 
are dear to us, when we conceive them to be 
running uncomfortable hazards. 

" What goodness you shall extend to us on 
this or any other Christian kindness, we your 
brethren in Christ Jesus, shall labor to repay in 
what duty we are or shall be able to perform, 
promising, so far as God shall enable us, to give 
Him no rest on your behalf, wishing our heads 
and hearts may be as fountains of tears for your 
everlasting welfare, when we shall be in our 
poor cottages in the wilderness, overshadowed 
with the spirit of supplication, through the 
manifold necessities and tribulations which 
may not altogether unexpectedly, nor, we hope, 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 43 

unprofitably befall us. And so commending 
you to the grace of God in Christ, we shall ever 
rest.' 5 

A few days after leaving Yarmouth, while 
the fleet was passing down the channel, a scene 
took place of a somewhat tragic interest, which 
enlivened the commencement of a voyage not 
much characterized by marvellous incidents. 
It gives us a peep at the belligerent state of the 
world at this time. It is thus described in the 
journal : 

" Friday, April 9th. — In the night we dis- 
covered, from the top, 8 sail astern of us, whom 
Captain Love told us he had seen at Dunninast 
in the evening. We supposing they might be 
Dunkirkers, our Captain caused the gun room 
and gun deck to be cleared, all the hammocks 
were taken down, our ordnance loaded, and 
our powder chests and fireworks made ready, 
and our landmen quartered among the seamen, 
and 25 of them quartered for musketeers, and 
every man written down for their quarter. 



44 SIIAWMUT, Oft THE 

"The wind continued N., with fair weather, 
and afternoon it calmed, and we still saw those 
eight ships to stand towards us ; having more 
wind than we, they came up again, so that our 
Captain and masters of the consorts were mere 
occasioned to think they might be Dunkirkers, 
for we were told at Yarmouth, that there were 
ten sail of them waiting for us : whereupon we 
all prepared to fight with them, and took down 
some cabins which were in the way of our ord- 
nance, and out of every ship was thrown such 
matter as were subject to take fire, and we hove 
our long boat, and put up our waste cloths, and 
drew forth our men, and armed them with mus- 
kets and other weapons, and instruments for 
fireworks; and for an experiment, our Captain 
shot a ball of wild fire fastened to an arrow, out 
of a cross-bow, which burnt in the water a good 
time. The lady Arabella and the other women 
and children were removed into the lower deck, 
that they might be out of danger. All things 
being thus fitted, we went to prayer upon the 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 45 

upper deck. It was much to see how cheerful 
and comfortable all the company appeared ; not 
a woman or child that showed fear, though all 
did apprehend the danger to have been great, 
if they had proved as might well be expected, 
for there had been eight against four, and the 
least of the enemy's ships were reputed to 
carry 39 brass pieces, but our trust was in the 
Lord of Hosts ; and the courage of our Captain, 
and his care and diligence, did much encourage 
us. It was now about one of the clock, and 
the fleet seemed to be within a league of us ; 
therefore the Captain, because he would show 
he was not afraid of them, and that he might 
see the issue before night should overtake us, 
tacked about and stood to meet them ; and 
when we came near, we perceived them to be 
our friends ; the little Neptune, a ship of some 
twenty pieces of ordnance, and her two con- 
sorts, bound for the Streights ; a ship of Hump- 
shire, and a Frenchman and three other Eng- 
lish ships bound for Canada and Newfoundland. 



46 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

So when we drew near, every ship as they met 
saluted each ether, and the Mayflower and ours 
discharged their small shot; and so (God be 
praised) our fear and danger was turned into 
mirth and friendly entertainment, our danger 
being then over." 

Detained on the coast by a variety of causes, 
it was not till the 11th of April that the little 
fleet was fairly out of sight of land. But now 
they feel themselves separated forever from their 
homes and many friends, and making their way 
over the mighty waters to a strange land. But 
there were noble hearts on board those ships, 
that knew well the greatness and holiness of 
the objects which had drawn them into the 
enterprise. They bore with them a charter 
authorizing them to establish a new common- 
wealth in the western world, and it was their 
purpose to make it a Christian commonwealth. 
This was the idea that made them look calmly 
upon all the sacrifices they made in leaving 
home, and encounter cheerfully all the perils 



SETTLEMENT OP BOSTON. 47 

and hardships of a new settlement in the wil- 
derness. They felt that God was with them in 
their wanderings, and his arm would guide 
them safely on. 

On Tuesday, the 8th of June, they made 
sight cf land, which proved to be Mount Desert. 
" We had now," says the journal, " fine suu- 
shine weather, and so pleasant a scene here as 
did much refresh us, and there came a smell 
off the shore like the smell cf a garden. There 
came a wild pigeon into our ship, and another 
small land bird." 

On the 12th the Arabella cast anchor under 
Baker's Island, a short distance from the har- 
bor of Salem, and Mr. Endicott came on board 
to welcome them. The governor, the assistants, 
and several gentlemen and ladies of the com- 
pany, hastened with joy to set their feet upon 
the long desired land of their adoption. 

It was their original design to establish the 
whole cclony in one place, but, for a variety of 
causes, when they arrived, they dispersed in 



48 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

different directions from Salem to Dorchester. 
The governor, in a few days after his arrival 
at Salem, went on an exploring tour to Charles- 
town, and up Mystic River about six miles. 
He selected Charlestown for his permanent 
residence. Here he and the other officers were 
accommodated with tenements in a building 
called the Great House, situated on the site of 
the present Market Square. The remainder 
of his company resided in booths and cloth 
tents in the neighborhood. 

In a short time they began to suffer severely 
from sickness, and a large number died. This 
was attributed, in part, to a scarcity of water, 
for, strange to relate, but one spring of good 
water could be found. This was near the 
present site of the state prison, and was covered 
by the tide at high water. 

Their rude habitations, also, were but a poor 
shelter from moisture and the vicissitudes of a 
changeable climate. A knowledge of their dis- 
tress awakened the sympathy of Mr. Blackstone, 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 49 

and he sent word to the governor that there 
were abundant springs of water at Shawmut, 
and invited him to remove thither. His gen- 
erous invitation was first accepted by Mr. John- 
son, a wealthy and leading man, who, with sev- 
eral others, removed to the peninsula in Au- 
gust, 1639. This led the way for others, and 
very soon Boston became the largest settlement 
in the bay. The first general court of the 
colony was holden here the 19th of October, 
1G39, at which time the governor and nearly 
all the people had removed from Charlestown, 
leaving but seventeen male inhabitants. 



CHAPTER V. 

THE FATHER OF BOSTON. LADY ARABELLA. DEVAS- 
TATING SICKNESS. 

Mr. Johnson has been called the father of 
Boston, because he led the way of the settle- 
ment of the governor and the chief men of the 
company in this place. His lot was the spot 
between Court and School streets, and his 
house occupied the site of the court house. He 
now lies buried in the Chapel burying-ground, 
in Tremont street, which formed a part of his 
lot, and was after his decease made a public 
burying-ground. He lived only a few months 
after his arrival. The general sickness which 
afflicted the plantation while at Charlestown, 
continued after the removal to Shawmut, and 
carried two hundred persons to the grave. It 
was a most devastating sickness, and spread 
destruction into almost every family. Among 



52 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

its earliest victims was the Lady Arabella, the 
lovely and devoted wife of Mr. Johnson. She 
belonged to a noble family in England, and 
was brought up amidst the delicacies and luxu- 
ries of refined society, but her love for her hus- 
band, made her choose to brave the dangers of 
a sea voyage, and the hardships of a pioneer 
settlement in the wilderness. She only lived 
long enough to smile upon the commencement 
of the enterprise, and passed away to a better 
world. She was buried at Salem, where she 
died. Her loss preyed upon the health of her 
husband, and prepared him to sink under the 
first attack of disease. He was a husband wor- 
thy of such a wife, a wise, enterprising and 
holy man, " endued," says an early historian, 
" with many precious gifts, and chief pillar to 
support this new erected building, so that at 
his departure there were many weeping eyes, 
and some fainting hearts, fearing the failure of 
the undertaking.'"' 

Alarmed by the dangers which thickened 



SETTLEMENT OP BOSTON. 53 

around them, about a hundred persons, includ- 
ing some of the officers of the government, and 
leading men on whom the colony leaned with 
confidence as the main pillars of their enter- 
prise, returned in haste to England. Thus de- 
serted by their companions, and oppressed by 
untried difficulties and hardships, the devoted 
remnant did not despair. Looking up to the 
God of Heaven in solemn prayer, their courage 
increased with the emergency, and in hope 
they waited for better days. Nor did they wait 
in vain. Ships arrive from time to time, bear- 
ing to them various supplies, fresh emigrants 
fill the vacancies made by death, the rude and 
comely edifices multiply on every side, sickness 
disappears, to return no mere in like manner to 
desolate their hemes, and the dark clouds that 
overhung their prospect disperse forever. 

The generous manner in which the settlers, 
in the time of their distress, administered to 
each other's wants, deserves to be commemo- 
rated. The poor kindly lent their services to 



54 SHAWMUT. 

the rich in their sickness, and the rich shared 
their scanty store of bread with the poor. It 
is related that Mr. Winthrop was in the act of 
dividing his last handful of meal with a poor 
neighbor, when the signal was given that a ship 
from England, laden with provision, had ap- 
peared in the offing. 



CHAPTER VI. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST CHURCH. RELIGIOUS 
CUSTOMS. PORTRAITS OF REV. MR. COTTON, AND 
REV. MR. WILSON. 

The first church was organized soon after 
the colonists landed at Charlestown. In the 
midst of their afflictions, the governor proposed 
to hold a day of fasting and prayer, which was 
observed on Tuesday the 30th of July, 1631. 
The services were conducted in the open air, 
under the canopy of heaven. After worship it 
was proposed that " such persons as knew each 
other," should enter into a church covenant. 
Accordingly Governor Winthrop, Deputy Gov- 
ernor Dudley, Mr. Johnson, and Rev. Mr. Wil- 
son, signed the following covenant : 

" In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and 
in obedience to his holy will and divine ordi- 
nance, 



56 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

" We, whose names are here underwritten, 
being by his most wise and good providence 
brought together into this part of America, in 
the bay of Massachusetts, and desirous to unite 
into one congregation or church, under the 
Lord Jesus Christ, one head, in such sort as 
becometh all those whom he hath redeemed 
and sanctified to himself, do hereby solemnly 
and religiously, as in his most holy presence,, 
promise and bind ourselves to walk in all our 
ways according to the rule of the gospel, and 
in all sincere conformity to his holy ordinances, 
and in mutual love and respect to each other, as 
near as God shall give us grace." 

A month afterwards, on Friday, another fast 
was held, at which time the congregation chose 
Mr. Wilson for their teacher, Mr. Increase 
Nowell for elder, and Dr. Gager and Mr. As- 
pinwall far deacons. These were all installed 
by imposition of hands, with a solemn declara- 
tion that it was only by way of election, and 
not to set aside Mr. Wilson's previous ordina- 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 57 

tion in England. Notwithstanding by these 
acts the church did in effect separate herself 
from the English establishment, and adopted 
the Congregational order, of which an example 
had been set by the church at Plymouth. This 
was a revolution into which they naturally fell ; 
for having left the shores where they had suf- 
fered so much from prelacy, they could not but 
desire to be entirely free from its dominion. It 
was not, however, deemed necessary nor pru- 
dent to make any parade about secession. 
Roger Williams, while pastor at Salem, refused 
to commune with the church in Boston, be- 
cause they would not make a public declaration 
of repentance for ever having connection with 
the Church of England. 

Two years afterwards, a contribution of 120 
pounds was made to build a church and par- 
sonage on opposite sides of State street. At 
this time there were one hundred and thirty 
male members, and twenty female members, in 
full communion. There was a distinction of 



58 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

offices then that does not now exist. Mr. Wil- 
son, who had been installed as a teacher, was 
now chosen pastor. They endeavored to make 
the celebrated Mr. Eliot (afterwards missionary 
to the Indians) their teacher, but he preferred 
to settle in Roxbury. Mr. Thomas Oliver was 
chosen ruling elder. He and Mr. Wilson were 
both ordained in form ; the two deacons first 
imposing hands upon the elder, and then the 
elder and two deacons upon the pastor. The 
next year the Rev. John Cotton, a man of dis- 
tinguished eloquence and piety, arrived from 
Boston in England, and was ordained teacher. 
The ceremony of calling upon the people to 
signify their election of the candidate, and en 
him to acknowledge his acceptance, and the 
presentation of the right hand of fellowship by 
the neighboring ministers, was introduced on 
this occasion. The doctrines of the church 
were Calvinistic. It was the custom after a 
sermon for any one who pleased to bear witness 
to the truth of what was preached ; and once a 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 59 

week the members of a church held a meeting 
at which they repeated the sermons they heard 
on the Lord's day, and discussed the doctrines. 
Thursday there was a public lecture, after 
which a town meeting was held for the trans- 
action of business. The ministers had great 
influence in the government, and often took 
occasion to discuss political topics at the Thurs- 
day lectures. One day before the election of 
officers, Mr. Cotton preached the election ser- 
mon, and advanced the doctrine that the people 
had no more right to turn a magistrate out of 
office, than the magistrate to turn a man out of 
his freehold, without a public trial. His ser- 
mon, however, did not have the effect he pro- 
bably intended ; for the freemen proceeding 
forthwith to vote for a governor and deputy, 
Mr. Winthrop was left out, and Mr. Dudley 
chosen in his place, and Mr. Roger Ludlow 
elected deputy. 

The support of the clergy and the mainte- 
nance of religion was at the public expense, 



60 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

and was assessed upon all the pew-holders, and 
levied like all other taxes. At the first meeting 
of the court of assistants, which was held on 
board the Arabella, anchored at Charlestown, 
on Monday the 23d of August, a few days be- 
fore the installation of Mr. Wilson, as before 
described, the first question settled was, how 
shall the ministers be maintained ? It was or- 
dered that houses should be built for their ac- 
commodation at the public charge, and that 
Mr. Wilson should have twenty pounds per 
annum until his wife arrived from England. 

Thus when the church and the state were 
composed of the same persons, did the state 
assume the burden of supporting the church ; 
and this practice was not wholly abolished until 
a recent date. But the civil government as- 
sumed no authority to control the faith of the 
church, or to interfere with its internal regula- 
tions. They had seen the evil of this in the 
mother country. Yet it was decreed that no 
person should be a freeman of the colony who 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 61 

was not a member of the church. And when 
the church adjudged a member heretical or 
disorderly, the arm of the civil law was em- 
ployed to enforce the judgment. A year after 
the settlement commenced, Governor Winthrop 
records an incident which illustrates the policy 
of that day. 

"The congregation at Watertown, whereof 
Mr. G. Phillips was pastor, had chosen Richard 
Brown for their elder, before named, who, per- 
sisting in his opinion of the truth of the Romish 
church, and maintaining other errors withal, 
and being a man of a very violent spirit, the 
court wrote a letter to the congregation, direct- 
ed to the pastor and brethren, to advise them to 
take into consideration whether Mr. Brown 
were fit to be continued their elder or not ; to 
which, after some weeks, they returned answer 
to this effect ; — that if we would take the pains 
to prove such things as were objected against 
him, they would undertake to redress them. 

" The congregation being much divided 
6 



62 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

about the elder, both parties repaired to the 
governor for assistance, &c, whereupon he 
went to Watertown with the deputy governor 
and Mr. NoweJI, and the congregation being 
assembled, the governor told them, that being 
come to settle peace, &c, they might proceed 
in three distinct respects : — 1. As the magis- 
trates, their assistance being desired. 2. As 
members of a neighboring congregation. 3. 
Upon the answer which we received of our 
letter, which did no way satisfy us. But the 
pastor, Mr. Phillips, desired us to set with them 
as members of a neighboring congregation 
only, whereto the governor, &,c, consented. 
Then the one side, which had first complained, 
were noticed to exhibit their grievances ; which 
they did, to this effect : — That they could com- 
municate with their elder, being guilty of er- 
rors, both in judgment and conversation. After 
much debate of these things, at length they 
were reconciled, and agreed to seek God in a 
day of humiliation, and so to have a solemn 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 63 

writing, each party promising to reform what 
has been amiss, &c. ; and the pastor gave 
thanks to God, and the assembly broke up." 

Rev. John Cotton was an extraordinary man. 
He was born in England, December 4, 1585, 
and received his education in the University of 
Cambridge, where he was honored by being 
elected fellow of Emanuel College. He after- 
wards became head lecturer, dean and catechist 
in the same college. In his twenty-eighth year 
he was elected pastor of the church at Boston, 
Lincolnshire, England ; and he entered upon 
his duties with a heart burning with zeal for 
the salvation of souls. Being called in his turn 
to deliver a sermon at St. Mary's, Cambridge, 
he prepared himself to preach a plain, practical 
sermon, designed rather to awaken the con- 
science, than to gratify the tsste. His distinc- 
tion as a scholar, had excited the expectation 
of a more than ordinary literary feast in his 
discourse. But the officers and members of 
the University list^ed to his earnest and point- 



64 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

ed address without any of that "humming" by 
which they usually expressed their applause, 
but with a disappointment which they took no 
pains to conceal. He had, however, the satis- 
faction to learn afterwards, that the distin- 
guished Dr. Preston, who came to hear a learn- 
ed harangue, rather than a gospel sermon, was 
awakened by the solemn truths he heard, and 
induced to seek a personal evidence of salva- 
tion. On one occasion a woman, alarmed by 
the eternal consequences of her crimes, came 
forward and confessed the murder of her hus- 
band, of which she had been guilty some years 
before, notwithstanding her confession exposed 
her to the dreadful penalty of being burnt alive. 
He was on some points a non-conformist, but 
be was protected from persecution by the affec- 
tions and reverence of his people, won by his 
zeal, faithfulness and talents. He did not long, 
however, enjoy this immunity. A profligate 
man, who had been punished for his crimes oy 
some magistrates belonging to his parish, gave 



SETTLEMExNT OF BOSTON. 65 

information against them to the officers of high 
Commission Court, that they did not kneel in 
service, nor observe certain other usages of 
religion established by law. He was told it 
was necessary that the pastor's name should be 
included in the complaint ; and though he had 
no particular ill will to Mr. Cotton, he was 
willing to sacrifice him to his revenge upon the 
magistrates. His friend the Earl Dorset inter- 
posed his influence in his behalf, but in vain ; 
he could not prevent his being summoned be- 
fore the Court, and wrote to him to fly the 
country, saying, that if he had been guilty of 
adultery or murder, he might be pardoned, but 
there was no forgiveness for puritanism. He 
took this friendly counsel, and in a disguised 
dress and name, he turned towards the coast, 
with a view to take ship for Holland. After- 
wards he changed his route, and went to Lon- 
don, where some eminent ministers sought an 
interview with him, to persuade him to submit 
his own judgment, ia matters of ceremony, to 
6* 



66 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

the established ritual ; but his conscience for- 
bade him. Here he received a letter from Mr. 
Winthrop, inviting him to America. He ac- 
cepted the invitation as a call of Providence, 
and arrived at Boston, September 4, 1633. His 
arrival was hailed by all the people with joy, 
for his fame had already spread throughout the 
settlement. He received various invitations 
from the surrounding villages to settle with 
them, but being advised by the governor and 
the ministers of the colony, he concluded to 
abide in Boston, and was ordained to the office 
of teacher in the first church. As colleague to 
the excellent Mr. Wilson, he entered upon his 
official duties with characteristic ardor. The 
order of the church was revived and improved; 
a task by no means easy in a community edu- 
cated in the usages of the Church of England, 
and composed of incongruous elements, some 
being more, and some less inclined to eccle- 
siastical restrictions and rules. In this labor, 
he prepared a treatise, entitled, the Keys of the 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 67 

Kingdom of Heaven, which was published in 
1044, and was long a standard among the 
churches. 

The private habits of the people needed cor- 
rection, in some respects, and he extended his 
influence through the government, and by pub- 
,; c discourse, to accomplish this object. Once 
he preached a sermon at Salem on the use of 
the veil, and so convinced the ladies that the 
Scripture did not require it, in countries where 
custom did not make it a sign of modesty, that 
nGt one of them appeared in the congregation 
in the afternoon with a veil, and the custom 
was abandoned ! 

His preaching was immediately instrumental 
of the conversion of souls, as we learn from 
Mr. Winthrop's journal, at the date of Decem- 
ber 4, 1634. " It pleased the Lord to give 
special testimony of his presence in the church 
of Boston, after Mr. Cotton was called to office 
there. More were converted and added to that 
church, than to all the other churches in the 



OS SHAWMUT, OR THE 

bay, (or rather, lake, for so it was principally 
termed, the bay being that part of the sea be- 
tween the two capes, Cape Cod and Cape Ann.) 
Divers profane and notorious evil persons came 
and confessed their sins, and were comfortably 
received into the bosom of the church." 

His ardent temper betrayed him into an in- 
discretion in relation to the religious move- 
ments of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson. For at first 
he seemed to encourage her and her followers 
in their theological notions, and received their 
applause as the only properly instructed divine 
in the country ; and yet after they found them- 
selves in trouble with the government and the 
church, he explained away his points of sup- 
posed agreement with them. This course gave 
dissatisfaction to all parties, and has cast a 
shade over his fair fame. A disciplr of iVrs. 
Hutchinson showed his disapprobation by se: -fl- 
ing him a pound of candles, with the Tie *s age 
that the candles were sent becauss ft wa? 
thought he needed more light. JVV Ccttoi 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. C9 

mildly replied by begging that they would grant 
him an interest in their prayers. 

In the arrangements of his household affairs, 
Mr. Cotton was precise. His custom was to 
have family worship twice a day ; in the morn- 
ing, the service consisted of prayer, reading the 
Scriptures, with comments thereon, and prayer 
again. In the evening, the service was more 
simple. He was exceedingly felicitous in ex- 
plaining the sacred text. A gentleman of high 
standing, who came forty miles to see him 
while in England, declared, that his ordinary 
expositions in his family, were as valuable as 
other ministers' public preaching. He was 
twice married, and his wives were both distin- 
guished for their devotional spirit. His first 
wife, who died before he came to America, was 
peculiarly eminent for piety. From the first, 
his acquaintance with her contributed to elevate 
his own mind to heavenly things; and he often 
mentioned that it was upon the day of their 
marriage, that he received his first satisfactory 



70 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

assurance of acceptance with God, saying, 
" God made this a day of double marriage to 
me." He had three sons and three daughters, 
and lived to see two of his sons settled in the 
ministry. 

In his profession, Mr. Cotton held the high- 
est rank among the ministers of New England, 
the brightest star in the rising constellation of 
the western hemisphere. He was a great stu- 
dent, spending daily twelve hours in his study. 
He could converse in Hebrew, and write Latin 
with elegance. His sermons he prepared with 
great care, though he often spoke without pre- 
meditation. His style was plain, but earnest, 
enlightened, and adapted to every capacity. 
His stature was rather below middling, his 
countenance florid, his eye keen and expressive, 
his voice and whole mien striking and digni- 
fied. His gravity was such, that ungodly men 
felt the reproof of his presence. The tavern- 
keeper in Derby, England, his native place, 
used to say that he was not able to swear when 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 71 

that man was under his roof. In doctrine he 
was a Calvinist, and he often said to his friends, 
he always liked to sweeten his mouth with a 
piece of Calvin before he went to sleep. 

In the fall of 1652, he took a violent cold, 
while crossing the ferry to preach to the stu- 
dents at Cambridge, which brought on an in- 
flammation of the lungs, attended with asthma. 
He had a presentiment of his approaching end, 
and after a day of private devotion, left his 
study for the last time, remarking to his wife, 
" I shall go into that room no more." While 
laying in expectation of death, he was visited 
by multitudes of every station in life. His 
worthy colleague, while conversing with him, 
expressed a hope that God would bless his aged 
servant in the closing up of his life. He re- 
plied, with a joyful look, "God has done it 
already, brother." Feeling his end had come, 
he desired to be left to himself, that he might 
fix his mind upon the great change that awaited 
him ; and so lying in silence a few hours, he 



72 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

closed his eyes, and yielded up his breath, in 
the sixty-seventh year of his age. 

His death spread a gloom over the whole 
country. He was buried in the Chapel bury- 
ing-ground, by the side of Winthrop and John- 
son, being followed to the grave by a most 
numerous concourse of people. His house 
stood on the site of the Svvedenborgian Chapel, 
in Tremont street. 

The first pastor, Rev. Mr.Wilson, survived his 
colleague fifteen years, and died at the advanced 
age of seventy-nine. He was the son of Dr. 
Wilson, a prebend of St. Paul, and was educated 
at Cambridge. He first entered the sacred 
ministry as pastor of a church in Sudbury, 
England, but was not long in his living before 
he was convicted of non-conformity, and si- 
lenced. His attention was early turned to the 
colonization of America by the Puritans. In a 
dream he saw a little temple rising out of the 
ground, which by degrees increased to one of 
very high and large dimensions, and he inter- 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 73 

preted it as predicting the prosperity of Christ's 
kingdom in the western hemisphere. He felt 
himself called by Providence to emigrate to 
New England. His wife, at first, was unwil- 
ling to accompany him, but after he had visited 
the country, and sent her an account of the 
prospects, and came back after her, she con- 
sented to share his destiny in the new world. 
Cotton Mather relates that Mr. Dod, a relation 
of Mrs. Wilson, sent her a present, not long 
after her arrival, consisting of a brass counter, 
a silver crown, and a gold jacobus, directing 
the messenger to give her first the brass coun- 
ter, and if she did not receive it pleasantly, to 
withhold the rest ; but if she did, to give her 
the silver crown, and next after that the gold 
jacobus, with the assurance that such would 
be the dispensations of God with her. And 
the event justified the riddle. Far different 
from his wife was the faith of Mr. Wilson 
Under all the changes of his lot, he relied 
steadfastly and cheerfully on the Divine Provi- 
7 



74 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

dence. Returning one day from an excursion 
into the country, he was met by one, who told 
him that his house had taken fire and burnt 
down. " Blessed be God," exclaimed he, " He 
has burnt this house, because he intends to 
give me a better." His moral courage was 
equal to his faith. From the first he never 
shrunk from reproving sin, especially when 
committed in his presence. While employed 
as chaplain in the house of Lady Scudamore, 
he observed that the gentry who visited her 
house on Sunday, amused themselves at table 
by talking about the exploits of their hawks 
and hounds at hunting. He reproved them, 
and a gentleman thanked him for the correc- 
tion, and for that time the conversation was 
changed ; but the next Sunday the same dis- 
course was resumed. Whereupon Mr. Wilson 
remarked, that " the hawks they talked about 
were the birds which picked up the seed of the 
word after the hearing of it." The husband 
of Lady Scudamore was offended at his free- 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 75 

dom, and she hinted to him that an apology 
was necessary. He told her that so long as he 
was employed as a minister in her house, he 
should do his duty. His firmness prevailed, 
and similar conversation was afterwards avoid- 
ed in his presence. 

His style of preaching was neither brilliant 
nor learned, but it was judicious, sound, and 
animated by an affectionate zeal. It was cal- 
culated to make the hearer think of himself 
and his sins, and to lead him to Christ. In 
doctrine he was orthodox, according to the 
theology of the times. He had no taste for 
novelties in religion, and was slow to change 
any opinion or usage he had adopted. In his 
declining years, he lamented the errors that 
were spreading among the churches, and feared 
that the faith of the first pilgrims would finally 
vanish from the land. 

Benevolence was the brighest jewel in his 
diadem of virtues. His heart was an overflow- 
ing fountain of kindly affections, and his hand 



76 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

was ever ready to relieve the afflicted. His 
hospitality was unbounded. Mr. Wood, the 
witty cobbler, in imitation of his forte for wri- 
ting anagrams, gave the following on his name, 
" I pray come in, you are heartily welcome." 
It is the property of love to beget love ; and 
there was scarcely a person in the colony who 
did not cherish for him decided esteem. On 
an occasion of general muster of the military, 
a person remarked to him, good humoredly, 
" Sir, I will tell you a great thing ; here is a 
mighty body of people, and there are not seven 
of them all but what love Mr. Wilson." " Sir," 
said Mr. Wilson, " I will tell you as good a 
thing as that ; here is a mighty body of people, 
and there is not so much as one of them all but 
Mr. Wilson loves him." 

It is not wonderful that such a man enjoyed 
communion with God, and often felt his soul 
overpowered with the glorious prospect of the 
future. His last sermon was preached at Rox- 
bury, from one of the Psalms of David, at the 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 77 

close of which he said, " Were these the last 
words I should ever speak, I would say, Halle- 
lujih, hallelujah, praise ye the Lord." In his 
death the people mourned the loss of a faithful 
shepherd, who had identified himself with his 
flock in all their eventful fortunes. 



7* 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE CIVIL POLITY. ROGER WILLIAMS. PORTRAITURES 
OF THE GOVERNOR AND DEPUTY GOVERNOR. 

Boston was the seat of government for the 
colony of Massachusetts. The government as 
it was settled in a short time, was vested in a 
governor, deputy governor, board of assistants, 
and deputies from each town. At first they sat 
together, but afterwards formed two houses, one 
having a negative upon the doings of the other. 
No man was entitled to vote at an election who 
was not a member of the church. The Scrip- 
tures of the Old and New Testaments were 
regarded as the basis of legislation. The gov- 
ernment, therefore, like that which Moses estab- 
lished in Canaan, was a sort of exclusive reli- 
gious Republic, in which every man who was 
willing to subscribe to the divine covenant, had 
an equal privilege. It was necessary, however, 



80 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

that he should understand the Christian system 
as they did, and conform to the same ordi- 
nances. At first, this constitution was not op- 
pressive, for almost every man was a member 
of the church ; but it afterwards wrought evil 
in the colony. This exclusiveness, however, 
has been too severely censured, as if it admitted 
of no apology. Having fled to this wilderness 
to enjoy unmolested their religious faith and 
worship, the pilgrims were jealous of their 
privileges, and feared to open the door of civil 
freedom too wide, lest by the gradual emigra- 
tion of a majority holding different views, they 
might again be oppressed. Such was their 
fear, that they would suffer no one to take up 
his residence among them without the consent 
of the magistrate. Every man was required to 
attend church regularly, and by express statute 
they prohibited every form of religion but their 
own. " The order of the churches and the 
commonwealth," writes Mr. Cotton with char- 
acteristic ardor, " is now so settled by common 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 81 

consent, that it brings to mind the new heaven 
and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteous- 
ness." But time soon demonstrated how much 
was yet wanting to make this system perfect. 
" While the state," says the eloquent historian 
of the United States, " was cementing, by the 
closest bonds, the energy of its faith with its 
form of government, there appeared in the meri- 
dian, one of those clear minds which sometimes 
bless the world by the power of seeing much 
truth in purest light, and reducing the just 
conclusion of their principles to a bright and 
consistent practice. 

" In February of the first year of the colony, 
but a few months after the arrival of Winthrop, 
and before either Cotton or Hooker had em- 
barked for New England, there arrived at Nan- 
tasket, (now called Hull,) after a stormy pas- 
sage of sixty-six days, ' a young minister, 
godly and zealous, having many precious gifts.' 
It was Roger Williams. He was but little 
more than twenty years of age, but his mind 



82 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

had already matured a doctrine which secures 
him an immortality of fame, as its application 
has given religious peace to the world. He 
was a puritan, and a fugitive from English per- 
secution ; but his wrongs had not clouded his 
accurate understanding. In the capacious re- 
cesses of his mind, he had revolved the nature 
of intolerance, and he, and he alone, had ar- 
rived at the just principle which is its sole 
effectual remedy. He announced his discovery 
under the simple proposition of the sanctity of 
conscience. The civil magistrate should re- 
strain crime, but never control opinion ; should 
punish guilt, but never violate the freedom of 
the soul. The doctrine contained in itself an 
entire reformation of theological jurisprudence. 
It would blot from the statute book the fallacy 
of non-conformity ; would quench the fires that 
persecution has so long kept burning ; would 
repeal every law compelling attendance on 
public worship; would abolish tithes, and all 
forced contribution to the maintenance of reli- 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 88 

gion ; would give a general protection to every 
form of religious faith, and would never suffer 
the authority of the civil government to be 
enlisted against the mosque of the Mussulman, 
or the altar of the fire-worshipper ; against the 
Jewish synagogue, or the Romish cathedral." 

This glowing description presents only the 
bright side of the picture; if the lofty principle 
of unqualified toleration was in advance of his 
age, and therefore not appreciated, it was con- 
nected with other sentiments which appear 
absura a> us. Such as, it was wrong " for a 
magistrate to tender an oath to an unregenerate 
man, for he would thereby have communion 
with a wicked man in the worship of God, and 
cause him to take the name of God in vain ;" 
and " that it was not lawful for an unregene- 
rate man to pray, or for a good man to join in 
family prayer with those he judged unregene- 
rate ; " and " that after meals we should not 
return thanks ;" and that the patent of Charles 
I. was of no validity, forasmuch as he had no 



84 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

right to cede territory belonging to the abo- 
rigines. 

These and other extravagant doctrines held 
by him were urged in a rigid and uncharitable 
spirit. He required the church at Salem, of 
which he was pastor, to refuse communion with 
the Boston church, because they did not pro- 
claim their repentance for their former con- 
nection with the English establishment; and 
when the Salem church did not consent to such 
an act of bigotry, he withdrew with a party, and 
held a separate meeting. It is said he refused 
to live with his wife, because she would not fol- 
low him in forsaking the church. His influence 
was great in Salem, and numbers of the military 
refused to march under the colors of England, 
because they had on them the cross, which he 
denounced as a popish sign ! 

These doctrines and movements disturbed 
the whole colony. They were in direct oppo- 
sition to the system of government and the 
habits of society. In the end, a great fire was 



SETTLEMENT OF EOSTON. 85> 

kindled, and Roger Williams was banished from 
Massachusetts. He fled, in the dead of winter,, 
to the Indians, who received bim hospitably, as 
a friend to their race. In the spring he sought 
and found an abiding place at the head of Nar- 
raganset bay. The place he called Providence, 
in token of the Divine protection granted him ; 
and here he founded the capital of the state of 
Rhode Island. But his great principle could 
not be exiled, and it now forms the basis of our 
religious liberty. Before better views obtained 
in the progress of civilization, the Episcopalians 
and the Baptists were persecuted, the followers 
of Anne Hutchinson and herself were op- 
pressed, and worst of all, the Quakers were 
hung in three instances, because they were ob- 
stinate, and when banished, would not leave the 
place. 

The government of the affairs of the town 

was committed to ten selectmen, then called 

towns-men, of whom the first on record was 

Mr. Winthrop. A more interesting character 

8 



86 SHAWTVIUT, OR THE 

than Winthrop is scarcely to be found in 
American history. Some of my readers have 
often seen his portrait in the state house. He 
was tall and well formed, his visage long, a 
high forehead, with dark blue eyes, and dark 
hair, worn in the form of a wig. His counte- 
nance beamed benevolence and wisdom. Made 
a justice of the peace in his native town in 
England at the early age of eighteen, he grew 
up in the exercise and art of government. His 
prudence, patience, courage and energy made 
him the successful pilot of the ship of state in 
the unchartered waters into which she was 
launched. He was not a democrat, " The 
best part of a community," said he, " is always 
the least; and of this least part the wiser is 
always the less." He was liberal in his natural 
disposition, and it was with reluctance that he 
yielded to the reigning spirit of intolerance in 
religion. Having been applied to in his last 
illness to sign an order for the banishment of a 
minister, he refused, saying, he had done too 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 87 

much of that already. In private life he was 
frugal and temperate, hospitable and exceed- 
ingly generous to the poor. One hard winter 
complaint was made to him that a person fre- 
quently stole wood from his pile. " Does he," 
said Mr. Winthrop ; " send him to me, and I 
will take a course with him that will cure him 
of stealing." The man appeared, trembling 
under the terrors of the law. " Friend," said 
the governor, " it is a cold winter, and I doubt 
you are but poorly provided with wood. You 
are welcome to supply yourself at my pile until 
the winter is over." 

His religion shone out through all his life, 
and gave a higher lustre to his character. He 
was zealous for truth and righteousness. Often 
would he bear witness to the minister in the 
congregation ; and frequently he visited the 
neighboring towns to prophesy, as it was called, 
that is, discourse religiously. His character 
was admired, not only throughout New Eng- 
land, but in the mother country, and at the 



US SHiWMUT, OR THE 

court. Charles I. remarked of him, that it was 
a pity that such a worthy gentleman should be 
no better accommodated than with the hard- 
ships of America. 

A wonderful control of his own passions 
was a proof of the grace of God in him, and 
associates him in the mind with that other 
great model of virtue which will forever adorn 
our country. - On a certain occasion, one of 
the officers of the colony wrote him a " sharp 
letter," complaining of his official acts. He 
handed it back to the messenger, after he had 
read it, remarking, that he " was not willing to 
keep such a letter of provocation by him." Not 
long afterwards, while the colony was suffering 
from scarcity of food, the same gentleman sent 
to buy some of his cattle. The governor sent 
them to him, begging that he " would receive 
them as a token of his good will." The gen- 
tleman wrote back, " Sir, your overcoming of 
yourself, hath overcome me." 

This admirable temper he carried in all his 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON". 89 

public life. Cotton Mather says of him, that 
he had " studied that book, which, professing 
to teach politics, had but three leaves, and on 
each leaf but one word, and that word was 

MODERATION." 

His end was peace. Worn with the toil of 
planting society in this wilderness, and with 
domestic affliction, in the loss of three wives 
and six children, at the age of sixty-two he felt 
a rapid decay of his faculties, and spoke of his 
approaching dissolution. His view of death 
was prophetic. A fever, after a month's con- 
finement, sealed up his eyes in death. His 
body lies buried at the north end of the Chapel 
burying-ground. Such was the man who, 
above all others, might be called the founder 
and father of Boston. 

Mr. Thomas Dudley, the first deputy gov- 
ernor, was a man of marked character. He 
was trained to the law in his youth, and had 
seen service as a captain of the army in the 
wars of the continent. He became a puritan 
8* 



90 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

after his retirement from the army ; and when 
the project of the Massachusetts colony was 
determined upon, he was selected as a suitable 
person to conduct its fortunes. He was a man 
of sound sense, sterling integrity, and uncom- 
promising faith. 

He was rigid in his religious opinions, and 
went far beyond Winthrop in enforcing the 
sectarian laws of the state. He considered 
that the various opinions that were struggling 
to manifest themselves from time to time, tend- 
ed to licentiousness ; and he was desirous that 
it should be inscribed on his grave-stone, that 
he was no friend to unlimited toleration, which 
he called libertinism. In his pocket, after his 
death, were found the following lines : 

" Dim eye, deaf ear, cold stomach, shew 
My dissolution is in view ; 
Eleven times seven near lived have I, 
And now God calls, I willing die. 
My shuttle 's shot, my race is run, 
My sun is set, my day is done ; 
My span is measured, tale is told, 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 91 

My flower is faded and grown old ; 

My dream is vanished, shadow 's fled, 

My soul with Christ, my body dead. 

Farewell dear wife, children and friends, 

Hate heresy, make blessed ends, 

Bear poverty, live with good men, 

So shall we live with joy again. 

Let men of God in court and churches watch 

O'er such as do a toleration hatch, 

Lest that ill egg bring forth a cockatrice, 

To poison all with heresy and vice. 

If men be left and otherwise combine, 

My epitaph 's, I died no libertine." 

He was almost always elected deputy when 
Wmthrop was chosen governor; and several 
times he was elected governor. He had his 
residence first at Cambridge, which he was 
chiefly instrumental in founding, and which he 
wished to make the seat of government. For 
a short time he lived in Newburyport, but 
finally fixed his abode in Roxbury, where he 
died, July 31, 1653. 



CHAPTER, VIII. 

FREE SCHOOLS. HARVARD UNIVERSITY. 

Scarcely had the pilgrims erected their 
houses in this new world, before they turned 
their attention to providing means for the edu- 
cation of the rising generation, not only in 
the elements of learning, but in the higher 
branches. 

The distinguished honor of first establishing- 
free schools belongs to Boston. The earliest 
notice of the subject is in the town records, 
under date of April 13, 1635. "Agreed upon, 
that our brother Philemon Purmont shall be 
entreated to become school-master, for the 
teaching and nurturing children with us." 
The precise plan, on which the schools were 
founded, is not known, but it appears that they 
were at first supported by voluntary subscrip- 
tions. The schools were not only for the ehil- 



94 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

drera of the colonists, but the Indian children 
were also allowed to enjoy the privilege. Our 
fathers were not enthusiasts, looking for the 
maintenance of civil or religious liberty without 
the aid of general education. They knew that 
as liberty without religion degenerates into 
licentiousness, so religion without learning 
will turn into fanaticism. Their aim, there- 
fore, was, to enlighten the whole community. 
The leading men of the state were not content 
with having their own children provided for ; 
they were willing to pay also for the education 
of the poor. The same liberal sentiments pre- 
vailed among the poorer classes, for when the 
government in 1636, the next year after the free 
school was commenced in Boston, appropriated 
four hundred pounds for the endowment of a 
college, they brought forward their humble of- 
ferings with ardor. One gave a sheep, another 
some cotton cloth, another a silver flagon, an- 
other a fruit-dish, a silver topped jug, a salt- 
cellar; some subscribed five shillings, some a 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 95 

pound, in money, and so upwards to larger 
sums. The site chosen for the college was 
in the town of Newton, three miles from the 
ferry to Boston. Two years afterwards the 
name of the town was altered to Cambridge. 
At the same time the college was called Har- 
vird college, in honor of Rev. John Harvard, 
who died that year at Charlestown, and left a 
legacy to the institution of between seven and 
eight hundred pounds, which was a great part 
of his estate, and a valuable library of two hun- 
dred and sixty volumes. Of this man but little 
more is known than this good deed ; but this 
has immortalized his name. He came to 
Charlestown in a consumption, in the hope that 
a change of climate might benefit his health; 
but he rapidly sunk under his disorder, and 
before a year had expired, he was laid at rest. 
He was educated at Cambridge, England, and 
the character of the books in his library, as 
well as the noble act which closed his life, in- 
dicates an elevated mind. One hundred and 



96 SHAWMUT. 

ninety years after his death, September 26, 
1828, a granite monument was erected to his 
memory on the top of burying hill in Charles- 
town. 

The college was unfortunate in its first 
president, Mr. Nathaniel Eaton, who was suffi- 
ciently well educated, but destitute of moral 
qualification for such an office. He possessed 
a violent temper, and was displaced for beating 
his usher with a cudgel. He was subsequently 
turned out of the church also. He was suc- 
ceeded by Mr. Henry Dunstan, a man of an- 
other stamp, and of distinguished worth. 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE ABORIGINES. MISSIONARY LABORS AMONG THEM 
THE APOSTLE OF THE INDIANS. 

To complete the picture of the settlement 
of Boston by the pilgrims, it is necessary to 
glance at their intercourse with the natives. 

As if Providence designed to clear the way 
for the occupancy of the land by white men, 
seven or eight years before the Mayflower ar- 
rived at Plymouth, a terrible epidemic wrought 
destruction among the Indians all along the 
coast. Scarcely one in ten escaped, and the 
land was made " an Indian Golgotha." The 
Massachusetts tribe, which before could muster 
in an emergency not less than three thousand 
warriors, had dwindled down in comparison to 
a handful. How much this diminished the 
perils of the settlement, may be inferred from 
the fate of a French ship, as mentioned by 
9 



98 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

Cotton Mather. It was commanded by a Capt. 
Finch, who visited the country for purposes 
of trade. The savages came on board in a 
friendly guise, and apparently without armor ; 
but they had knives concealed under their 
clothes, and watching their opportunity, sud- 
denly they sprang upon the crew, murdered 
them all, and burnt the ship. 

The disease which preyed upon the Indians 
was a sort of yellow fever. " The bodies," 
said an old Indian, " were exceedingly yellow, 
(describing it by a garment he showed,) both 
before and after they died." It may here be 
remarked that the consumption, now so fatal to 
persons of every age, was a disease common to 
the native tribes on this coast. It seems to be 
an attendant upon our climate. The young 
Indian felt it coming upon him, retired from 
the chase, and lay down in his quiet wigwam, 
and, in a few months, alternating between hope 
and fear, closed his eyes peacefully in death. 

In their general character and customs, the 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 99 

Indians of these parts were not dissimilar to the 
existing North American aborigines. They 
were divided into small tribes, under the gov- 
ernment of sachems. " Their skins," says one 
whose office brought him to a familiar acquain- 
tance with the Massachusetts, " are of tawny 
color; the proportion of their limbs well formed; 
their hair is black and harsh, not curling ; their 
eyes black and dull. They take many wives, 
one of them being principal in their esteem and 
affection. They also put away their wives, and 
their wives leave their husbands upon ground 
of displeasure. If any wrong be committed, 
the whole tribe consider themselves bound to 
take revenge. Their houses or wigwams are 
built with small poles fixed in the ground, bent 
and fastened together with bark of trees, oval 
or arbor-shaped at the top. Their clothing is 
chiefly made of the skins of wild beasts, some- 
times mantles of the feathers of birds quilted 
artificially. The females decorate themselves 
with bracelets, necklaces, and beads of black 



100 



SHAWMUT, OR THE 



and white wampum. They are addicted to 
gaming, and also delight much in dancing and 
feasting. If any stranger come to their house, 
they give him the best lodging and diet they 
have. They acknowledge one Supreme doer 
of good, and another of mischief; the latter 
they dread and fear, more than they love and 
honor the chief good, which is God." 

It is evident that the colonists regarded them- 
selves somewhat in the character of mission- 
aries to the natives. The device upon the seal 
of the Charter was an Indian, erect and naked, 
holding an arrow in his right hand, and in his 
left a bow, with these words in a scroll from 
his mouth, " Come over and help us." Their 
treatment of the Indians in the vicinity was, 
almost without exception, just, humane, and 
worthy of a Christian people. Another fearful 
epidemic, ever following in the wake of Euro- 
pean emigration, the small pox, got among the 
tribes about three years after the colony ar- 
rived, and spread desolation throughout their 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 101 

wigwams. The ministers, disregarding the 
perils attending their duty, visited them in 
their afflictions, and labored assiduously to in- 
culcate among them the blessed hopes of the 
gospel. 

The chief sachem of this region was Wono- 
haquaham, Sagamore John, as he was called 
by the settlers. His residence was on the 
north-east side of the harbor at Winnisimmet, 
(now Chelsea.) He conceived a strong liking 
for the English strangers, and reciprocated 
with them many acts of kindness. He fell ? 
victim to the raging disorder. Mr. Cotton has 
given an account of his last days, which reveals 
both the dark superstitions of these poor 
heathen, and the evangelical ardor of the colo- 
nists. 

" At our first coming, brother Sagamore 
John was the chiefest Sachem in these parts. 
His falling sick, our Pastor, Mr. Wilson, hear- 
ing of it, (and being of some acquaintance with 
him,) went to visit him, taking with him some 
9* 



102 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

of the Deacons of our Church, and withal! a 
little Mithridate and strong water. When he 
came to his lodging, (which they call wigwam,) 
hearing a noyse within, he looked over the 
door to discerne what it meant, and saw many 
Indians gathered together, and some Powows 
amongst them, who are their Priests, Physi- 
cians and Witches. They by course spake 
earnestly to the sick Sagamore and to his dis- 
ease, (in a way of charming of it and him,) and 
one to another in a kind of Antiphonies. When 
they had done, all kept silence, our Pastor 
went in with the Deacon, and found the man 
farre spent, with his eyes set in his head, his 
speech leaving him, his mother (old squaw 
sachem) sitting weeping at his bed head. Well, 
(saith our Pastour,) our God save Sagamore 
John; Powow cram (that is kill) Sagamore 
John ; and thereupon hee fell to prayer with 
his Deacon ; and after prayer, forced into the 
sick man's mouth with a spoon a little Mithri- 
date dissolved in the strong water ; soon after 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 103 

the Sagamore looked up, and three days after 
went abroad on hunting. This providence so 
farre prevailed with the Sagamore, that he 
promised to look after the Englishman's God, 
to heare their sermons, to weare English ap- 
parell, &.c. But his neighbour Indians, Saga- 
mores and Powows, hearing of this, threatened 
to cram him, (that is, to kill him,) if he did so 
degenerate from his country's Gods and Reli- 
gion ; he therefore fell off, and took up his 
Indian course of life again. Whatsoever fa- 
cility may seeme to offer itself of the conversion 
of the Indians, it is not so easie a matter for 
them to hold out, no not in a semblance of 
profession of the true Religion. Afterwards 
God struck John Sagamore againe, (and as I 
remember, with the small pox :) but then when 
they desired like succor from our Pastour as 
■before, he told them now the Lord was angry 
with Sagamore John, and it was doubtful he 
would not so easily be intreated." 

Another writer speaks thus of his last mo- 



104 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

ments, for he died of this disease : — " Being 
struck with death, he began fearfully to re- 
proach himself that he had not lived with the 
English and known their God. ' But now/ he 
added, ' I must die. The God of the English 
is much angry with me, and will destroy me. 
Ah ! I was afraid of the scoffs of those wicked 
Indians. But my child shall live with the 
English, to know their God, when I am dead. 
I'll give him to Mr. Wilson, he much good 
man, and much love me.' " 

But the brightest example of missionary zeal 
which the whole history of the settlement of 
America exhibits, was that of Eliot, justly dis- 
tinguished by the title given him in his life- 
time, " the Apostle of the Indians." This 
morning star graced the dawn of civilization in 
Boston and vicinity. The Rev. John Eliot 
was born in the county of Essex, in England, 
and educated in the University of Cambridge. 
He arrived at Boston the year after the settle- 
ment commenced. In the absence of the pas- 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 105 

tor, who was gone to England, he supplied the 
pulpit for several months, and gave so much 
satisfaction by his enlightened and pious labors, 
that he was earnestly invited by the whole 
church to become a colleague of Mr. Wilson 
in the pastoral office. He was, however, under 
an engagement to serve a company, who were 
expected soon to leave England to make a 
settlement in the neighborhood of Shawmut. 
When they arrived, they selected Roxbury as 
their place of residence, and Mr. Eliot was 
installed as their pastor, and remained in that 
relation until his death. He had not been long 
in the land before his heart yearned over the 
degraded and forlorn condition of the abo- 
rigines. He took an old Indian into his family, 
and learnt of him the Indian language. He 
then began to preach among them. His first 
sermon in the Indian language was delivered 
at Nonantum, now Newton, December 8, 1646. 
His text was Ezekiel's vision of the valley of 
dry bones. After sermon he gave opportunity 



106 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

for the Indians to ask any questions. One in- 
quired whether Jesus Christ could understand 
prayers in the Indian language ; another asked 
how there could be an image of God, seeing it 
was forbidden in the commandments ; a third 
question was, how the world became full of 
people, if they were all drowned. At other 
times he was asked, if God was stronger than 
the Devil, why he did not kill the Devil ? and 
how the English came to know so much more 
about God than the Indians, seeing they had 
one father? and how it came to pass that the 
sea water was salt, and the river water fresh ? 
After his second sermon, one old Indian asked 
him, with tears in his eyes, whether it was not 
too late for him to be saved. After laboring 
among them for a season, he discovered that 
there was little prospect of doing permanent 
good, unless they could be induced to forsake 
their desultory, savage habits, and become civ- 
ilized. Through his influence, the converted 
Indians and their friends were persuaded to 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 107 

form towns after the fashion of the colonists. 
The first Indian town was built at Natick, on 
Charles River, in 1651. A house of worship 
was erected, and a form of government adopted 
based on the general model which Jethro re- 
commended to Moses for the Israelites in the 
wilderness, as related in Exodus xviii. He 
established a school, and, besides the rudiments, 
he taught them logic and natural philosophy. 
Every fortnight he was on his missionary tours, 
which extended through all the tribes in the 
Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies, as far as 
Cape Cod and Nantucket. He was resisted by 
the sachems and powows, who often threatened 
his life. But he was afraid of nothing in the 
discharge of his duty. He said to them, " I 
am about the work of the great God, and my 
Lord is with me ; so that I neither fear you 
nor all the sachems in the country. I will go 
on ; do you touch me if you dare." 

He encountered all kinds of hardships with 
cheerfulness. " I have not been dry," said he, 



108 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

" night nor day, from the third to the sixth day 
of the week, but so travelled ; and at night 
pull off my boots, wring my stockings, and on 
with them again, and so proceed. But God's 
blessing is my help. I have considered the 
word of Christ, 1 Tim. ii. 3, ' Endure hardship 
rs a good soldier of Jesus Christ.' " 

In fifteen years after he preached the first 
sermon, he printed, in the Indian language, his 
translation of the New Testament, and a few 
years after the whole Bible. His success was 
as extraordinary as his exertions. He lived to 
see twenty-four native preachers declaring to 
thousands of their converted countrymen the 
" unsearchable riches of Christ." During the 
wars of Philip, which resulted in the extermi- 
nation of whole tribes, he defended the towns 
of praying Indians from violence, when the 
fury of the exasperated colonists would have 
whelmed them in indiscriminate destruction. 
In this angelic labor he incurred the hatred of 
some. Being upset in a boat, and well nigh 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. Itv 

drowned, a man who hated him for his friend- 
ship to the Indians, expressed his regret that 
the missionary had not lost his life when he 
came so near it. In a short time after, this 
same man was overset in a boat and drowned. 

Through all his labors and perils, he was 
preserved by a merciful Providence, and after 
living to an extreme old asre, he died in the 
bosom of his family, at Roxbury, May 20, 1690. 

Mr. Eliot's preaching was plain, free from 
the quaint expressions and theological quibbles 
which marked the age, earnest and instructive. 
He breathed a continual spirit of prayer It 
was his constant habit to lift up his heart in 
prayer for every person he met. His benevo- 
lence was unbounded, and he often gave to the 
poor what was needed by his own family. It 
is related, that the treasurer of the parish, 
knowing his extreme generosity, on one occa- 
sion when he paid him his monthly salary, tied 
it up in a handkerchief in several hard knots. 
Eliot called, on his way home, to see a poor 
10 



110 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

family in distress, and wishing to relieve their 
wants, he tried to get at his money, but he 
could not untie the knots. So after some time 
trying, impatient of the perplexity, he gave 
handkerchief and all to the mother of the 
family, saying, " Here, my dear, take it ; I 
believe the Lord designs it all for you." 

His temperance was remarkable. One plain 
dish was all that he allowed himself at home ; 
and his habitual drink was water. Of wine he 
said, " it is a noble and generous liquor, and 
we should be humbly thankful for it ; but, as I 
remember, water was made before it." He 
was decidedly opposed to the custom of wear- 
ing wigs, and protested against the practice of 
" drinking tobacco," as smoking was called. 
His humility was extreme, for he literally wore, 
in imitation of John the Baptist, " a leathern 
girdle about his loins." 

The sun has its spots, and the most perfect 
of human kind are not without their faults. 
Eliot had as few, perhaps, as any other man. 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. Ill 

He finished his course amidst the affections 
and praises of his generation ; and his last 
words were, " welcome joy." 

The author of the Wonder Working Provi- 
dence has employed his muse in the following 
tribute to his memory, which, though it has 
but little of poetry in it except the rhyme, is 
interesting as showing the light in which Elict 
was regarded by his contemporaries : 

" Great is thy worke in wildernesse, oh man, 
Young Eliot, neere twenty yeares thou hast, 
In westerne world, with mickle toil, thy span 
Spent well neere out, and now thy gray hairs graced 
Are by thy Landlord Christ, who makes use of thee 
To feed his flock, and heathen people teach, 
In their own language, God and Christ to see 
A Saviour, their blind hearts could not reach, 
Poor naked children, come to learn God's mind 
Before thy face, with reverend regard. 
Blesse God for thee may these poor heathen blind, 
That from thy mouth Christ's gospel sweet have heard. 
Eliot, thy name is through the wild woods spread, 
In Indians' mouths frequent 's thy fame — for why ! 
In sundry shapes the devil made them dread, 
And now the Lord makes them their wigwams fly. 



112 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

Rejoice in this, nay, rather joy that thou, 
Amongst Christ's soldiers hast thy name sure set, 
Although small gain on earth accrew to you, 
Yet Christ to crowne will thee to Heaven soone fet." 

Before we leave the Indians, we may men- 
tion a neighboring sachem, with whom the 
settlers had frequent and friendly intercourse. 
His residence was at Dorchester, near Neponset 
River, and his name among his tribe was 
Chickatabot. A few months after the arrival 
of the colony, he made a visit to Governor 
Winthrop at Shawmut, accompanied by a num- 
ber of the native men and women, bringing 
with them a present of a bushel of Indian corn. 
He was invited to dine with the governor, and 
he accepted the invitation for himself and two 
of his attendants, one squaw, and one sannop ; 
the rest he sent home, though it rained hard, 
and the governor urged their remaining. Be- 
ing dressed in English fashion, they sat down 
in English style at the table, and behaved, the 
governor remarks, " as soberly as any English- 
man." 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 113 

In a few weeks the sagamore made Boston 
another visit, and wished to purchase of the 
governor a suit of clothes. Mr. Winthrop told 
him that " English sagamores did not use to 
truck," but calling his tailor, he gave orders to 
make the sachem a complete suit. In return, 
Chickatabot presented the governor with two 
large skins of coat-beaver. A few days after- 
wards he returned to get his clothes ; and, be- 
ing rigged out from head to foot like an Eng- 
lishman, he sat down to dinner at the govern- 
or's house with no little self-complacency. At 
the table he declined eating until after the 
governor had given thanks ; and after meat he 
desired him to do the same. He took leave 
of the governor in high spirits, and no doubt 
made a grand display of his new dress among 
his own people at Neponset. 

In this friendly manner did the fathers of 

Boston associate with the aborigines of these 

parts ; nor was there once a drop of Indian 

blood shed in their streets, nor a wigwam burnt 

10* 



114 SHAWMUT. 

within sight of the city. The storm of Indian 
war raged at a distance, and rolled away with- 
out involving the peaceful tribes around Shaw- 
mut. Once during the first year of the settle- 
ment, there was an alarm that the Indians of 
the interior were coming down upon them, but 
it proved a false alarm, and they experienced 
nothing of the dreadful scenes which marked 
the early history of so many of the settlements 
in our country. 



CHAPTER X. 

PICTURE OF THE SETTLEMENT AT SHAWMUT. VIEW 
FROM BEACON HILL. 

The settlement at Shawmut is now fairly 
established. Let us take a survey of it. Here 
we are favored with looking first through the 
eyes of an actual visitant of the place, Mr. 
Wood, who has left a graphic and picturesque 
account of it, as he saw it in 1633. " The har- 
bor," he writes, " is made by a great company 
of islands, whose high cliffs shoulder out the 
boisterous seas ; yet may easily deceive any 
unskilful pilot ; presenting many fair openings 
and broad sounds, which afford too shallow 
water for ships, though navigable for boats and 
pinnaces. It is a safe and pleasant harbor 
within, having but one common and safe en- 
trance, and that not very broad ; there scarce 
being room for three ships to come in board to 



116 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

board at a time ; but being once in, there is 
room for the anchorage of a fleet. 

" The situation of Boston is very pleasant, 
being a peninsula, hemmed in on the south 
side by the bay of Roxbury, and on the north 
side with Charles River, the marshes on the 
back side being not a quarter of a mile over ; 
so that a little fencing will secure their cattle 
from the wolves. The greatest wants are wood 
and meadow land ; being constrained to fetch 
their building timber and fire-wood from the 
islands in boats, and their hay in loyters. It 
being a neck, and bare of wood, they are not 
troubled with these great annoyances, wolves, 
rattlesnakes and musquitoes. 

"This neck of land is not above four miles in 
compass, in form almost square, having on the 
south side, at one corner, a great broad hill, 
(now called Fort Hill,) whereon is planted a 
fort, which can command any ship, as she saiL 
into the harbor. On the north side is another 
hill, equal in highness, whereon stands a wind 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 117 

mill (Copp's Hill.) To the north-west is a 
high mountain, with three little rising hills on 
the top of it, wherefore it is called Tramount. 
From the top of this mountain a man may 
overlook all the islands which lie within the 
bay, and descry such ships as are on the sea- 
coast. This town, although it be neither the 
greatest or the richest, yet is the most noted 
and frequented, being the centre of the planta- 
tions, where the monthly courts are held. Here, 
likewise, dwells the governor. This place hath 
very good land, affording rich corn-fields and 
fruitful gardens, having likewise sweet and 
pleasant springs. The inhabitants of this place, 
for their enlargement, have taken to themselves 
farm-houses in a place called Muddy River, 
(Brookline,) two miles from the town, where 
there is good ground, large timber, and store 
of marsh land and meadow. In this place they 
keep their swine and other cattle in summer, 
whilst the corn is in the ground at Boston, and 
bring them to town in winter." 



118 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

Now let us ascend to the top of that highest 
hill, and look down upon the town and the 
surrounding country. Two years after, by the 
way, this highest point was called Sentry hill, 
because a beacon was set up there, to be fired, 
when occasion served, by men stationed there 
for that purpose. It was 138^ feet from the level 
of the sea, between forty and fifty feet lower 
than the state house. What a delightful pros- 
pect of the bay, the surrounding country, and 
the town beneath! The islands except one 
appear to be uninhabited ; not a wigwam is left. 
On that island, now called East Boston, I see 
one cottage, and there on an eminence four 
cannon planted. Mr. Samuel Maverick lives 
there, and he planted those cannon to defend 
himself from the Indians. He has the distinc- 
tion of being the first slave-holder, having an 
African slave in his house. Just across the 
cove on the west is a small nook of houses in a 
place then called Winnisimmet, and now Chel- 
sea. If you look sharp you can see the smoke 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 119 

rising from the wigwams of Sagamore John and 
his tribe. On the left, across the Mystic, you 
see Charlestown. There is a considerable 
number of small houses, and one large house ; 
and there goes over a regular ferry-boat from 
Boston. Farther up Charles River is a very neat 
looking place, with some handsome houses and 
well contrived streets ; it was called Newton, 
now Cambridge. This was at first pitched 
upon by the court as the capital, and Governor 
Winthrop put up the frame of a house, but took 
it down soon after and removed it to Boston, 
being persuaded that the peninsula was much 
better situated both for commerce and defence. 
Some settlements begin to appear half a mile 
west, at a place called Watertown. South-west 
two miles, is rather a rich looking settlement 
called Roxbury, where it is very rocky, espe- 
cially on the western side. A mile below is 
Dorchester, one of the largest plantations in 
Massachusetts. Three miles below is Mount 
Wolaston, (Braintree,) and below that is Wey- 



120 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

mouth, at both which places there are con- 
siderable improvements. 

And now let us look down upon Boston. 
There are twenty or thirty good looking farm- 
houses here, and a large number of booths, and 
some tents, scattered all about, but the greatest 
number are collected about this hill, on the 
harbor side. I see but one church, down in 
State street, nearly opposite to the present 
site of the Merchants Bank. The roof is 
thatched, and its walls are of mud. It was 
begun on the 26th day of May, two years after 
the settlement was made. The minister lives 
in the house opposite, in a spot to which he has 
left his name, Wilson's lane. State street is a 
highway, and runs down to the water, but I see 
no wharves yet. The tide flows up below the 
church as far as Congress street, and there 
seems to be a yard for building ships. There 
is Governor Winthrop's dwelling, a substantial 
house of wood, two stories high 

There is quite a number of graves on Mr 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 121 

Johnson's lot, where he lies buried. There is 
a shop at the north corner of State street, be- 
longing to Mr. Cogan. The market is not 
established by the court till next year, opposite 
the post office. There are not many houses 
at the north end. The water flows up as far 
as Ann street. A cove sets in up to what was 
afterwards called Brattle street, and covers 
Dock square ; there is another vast cove on the 
west side, which was afterwards called the Mill- 
pond, when a causeway was built from Leverett 
street to Prince street. The tide washes up as 
far as Hawkins street and Pitts street, on this 
side, and on the other as far as Baldwin place, 
where the first Baptist church was erected. All 
along below Blossom street there is a marsh to 
the river side. South of Beacon Hill there is 
a large field fenced in, with a pond in the mid- 
dle, and cattle and horses feeding ; at the bot- 
tom of it is a hill called Fox hill. There are 
but few dwellings beyond this towards the neck. 
There is quite a pond where Chauncey place 
11 



122 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

is, and below that a marsh or swamp. I see 
the people building houses and planting gar- 
dens on all sides ; a number of ships are com- 
ing into the harbor, and some vessels are build- 
ing in several places along the shore. 

The writer quoted at the beginning of this 
chapter has described the peninsula as denuded 
of wood, but from the following poetic effusion 
upon the sylvan wealth, with which the sur- 
rounding country abounded, it appears that the 
scene we have contemplated was sufficiently 
shaded by groves of various kinds of trees : 

" Trees both on hills and plains in plenty be, 
The long-lived oak and mournful cypress tree, 
Sky-towering pines and chesnuts coated rough, 
The rosin-dropping fir, for masts in use 
The boatmen seek ; for oars, the light and neat grown 

spruce. 
The brittle ash, the ever trembling asp, 
The broad-spread elm whose concave harbors wasps, 
The water-springing alder, good for nought, 
Small elders by the Indian fletchers sought 
The knotty maple, pallid birch, hawthorn, 
The horn bound tree that to be cloven scorns, 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 123 

Which from the tender vine oft takes his spouse, 
That twines embracing arms about his boughs. 
Within the Indian orchard, fruits be some, 
The ruddy cherry and the jetty plum. 
Snake murthering hazel, with sweet saxaphage, 
Whose spurns, in beer, allays hot fever's rage, 
The dear shumac, with other trees there be, 
That are both good to use and rare to see." 



CHAPTER XL 



CONCLUSION. 



Such was Boston a little more than two hun- 
dred years ago. Behold, what a change ! The 
peninsula Shawmut upholds a stately and mag- 
nificent city, crowned with a state-house upon 
the loftiest of the three mountains, around 
which the city seems to rise in the form of an 
inverted amphitheatre, adorned with churches, 
hospitals, institutions of learning, and monu- 
ments of patriotism. The heights round about 
the city, the large island opposite, the banks 
of the three rivers, which pour their confluent 
waters into the harbor, and all the prominent 
points along the surrounding shores, are 
studded with towns, villages and hamlets. A 
forest of masts rises up among the numerous 
wharves, and the harbor is all astir with 
11* 



126 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

steamboats and packets, and craft of every size 
and every flag, coming and going, overshad- 
owed here and there by the lofty yards of a 
man-of-war anchored in the channel. Railroads 
branch from the city in all directions, connect- 
ing it with the British dominions, the south- 
ern states, and the western lakes. Yonder 
goes a gigantic steamer, one of the floating 
bridges which bind together the old and new 
worlds. The population constantly increasing 
amounts to nearly a hundred thousand ; al- 
ready there is not sufficient room for them in 
the peninsula. Establishing their stores and 
ware-houses there, they are spreading their 
dwellings over all the circumjacent shores. The 
city government is now extended to Dorchester 
Heights and Noddle's Island, which are called 
South and East Boston. Probably the time is 
coming when the city will include in its ample 
range all the places marked by the scattered 
settlements of the Winthrop colony. The hun- 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 127 

dred islands will be united by bridges or fer- 
ries, and the western Venice will sit amidst the 
waters, unrivalled in beauty, and unequalled in 
influence. 

It was thought an untoward Providence, 
which diverted the course of the Mayflower, 
and led the pilgrim settlers to the rocky shores 
of New England. But posterity will see, that 
the All-wise Disposer of events designed for 
them the best portion of the whole land. An 
immense extent of coast, indented with a great 
number of harbors, easy of access, commodious 
and safe, gives us commerce with every part 
of the globe. The country delightfully diver- 
sified with hills and valleys and spreading 
plains, intersected with streams and rivers, 
while it yields a competency to the industry 
of the agriculturalist, opens unequalled facilities 
for manufactories. Thus every variety of na- 
tive genius is developed and employed. The 
climate, though severely cold at times, is grad- 



128 SHAWMUT, OR THE 

ually becoming milder, and, if cultivation pro- 
duces the same effect here as in the other con- 
tinent, is destined to be as pleasant as that of 
the vine-clad regions of southern Europe in the 
same latitude, — for Gaul and Germany were as 
cold as New England when the legions of 
Rome began to thread their forests. 

Thus we see God has favored us in our 
natural position and resources ; and when we 
associate with these our civil and social privi- 
leges, we may apply to our state and prospects, 
with increased emphasis, the song of Asaph, 
(Ps. Ixxx.,) which our fathers more than a cen- 
tury ago loved to apply in the same way : 

" Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt ; 
Thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it ; 
Thou preparedst room before it, 
And didst cause it to take deep root, 
And it filled the land. 

The hills were covered with the shadow of it, 
And the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars 
She sent out her boughs unto the sea, 
And her branches unto the river." 



SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON. 129 

Let it be forever impressed upon the minds of 
all that shall dwell in this land, that it was the 
Religion of our fathers that gave us this goodly 
heritage. Nor can we hope to enjoy it in peace, 
any longer than that religion is allowed the 
ascendency in all things. 



APPENDIX. 



The following is the first page or two of the Re- 
cords of the town of Boston, which, as such, possesses 
an antiquarian interest. From it we learn who were 
the selectmen at the time. 



1634. 

Month 7th. 
daye 1. 
Jo. Winthrop 
Wm Coddington 
Capt. Underhill 
Tho. Oliver 
Tho. Leveritt 
Giles Firmin 
Jo. Coggeshall 
Wm. Pierce 
Robt. Hardinge 
Win. Brenton 



12 



Whereas it hath been founde 
that much damage hath already 
happened by laying of Stones and 
Logges near the bridge and land- 
ing place, whereby diverse boats 
have been much bruised, for pre- 
vention of such harmes for time to 
come, it is ordered that whosoever 
shall unlade any stones, timber oi 
logges where the same may not be 
plainly seen at high water, shall 
set up a pole or beacon to give 
•notice thereof, upon paine that 
whosoever shall faile so to doe 
shall make full recompence for all 
such damage as shall happen to 
any boats or other vessels, by oc- 
casion of such stones, timber or 
kgges, the same to be recovered 
by way of action at the Court ; and 
this order to be in force from this 
day for ward e — being only a de- 
claration of the common lawe 
herein. 



134 



APPENDIX. 



Water Bayliffes 



It is also ordered that no person 1 
shall leave any fish or garbage near 
the said bridge or common landing 
place between the creeks, whereby 
any annoyance may come to the 
people that passe that way, upon 
paine to forfeit for every such of- 
fence five shillings, the same to be 
levyed by distresse of the goodes 
of the offender — And this order to 
be of force from the fourth day of 
this month and so forever. 

And for the better execution of 
these orders, the aforenamed Gilea 
Firmin is appointed overseer of the 
saide landing place, to give notice- 
to such strangers and others as 
come hither with boats, to take 
knowledge of all such offences com- 
mitted, and to levye the penalties 
which shall be forfeited. 

And if after notice shall be given 
by the said overseer, to any person 
that shall have any timber, logges 
or stones, being without such pole 
or beacon, he shall take away the 
same, or set up such pole or beacon 
the said offender shall, (after mak- 
ing recompence to the person dam- 
nified, if any damage happen,) for- 
feit to the towne for every day the 
same offence shall continue, five 
shillings, to be levyed by distress. 

At a general meeting, upon pub- 
lique notice given, the fifth day of 
last weeke, it was ordered and 
agreed as follows : 



APPENDIX. 



135 



The 10th daye 
of the 9th month. 
November, 1634. 

Hogg Island to 
be allotted. 



Imprimis. Richard Bellingham, 
Esquire, and J. Cogan, Merchant, 
were chosen in the place of Giles 
Firmin, deceased, and Robt. Hard- 
inge, now in Virginia, to make up 
the number to manage the affairs 
of the towne. 

Item. Jo. Coggeshall Wm. Col- 
burn, Saml. Cole, Wm. Brenton and 
Thos. Grubb, together with Wm. 
Cheesborough, the constable, are 
deputed to make a rate for the 
levying of 40£ assessed upon the 
towne, as the first payment of a 
greater sume by order of the Genl. 
Court. 

John Cogan, Tho. Matson, Nich- 
olys Willys are chosen to serve as 
Jurors at the Court of Assistants. 

Att a general meeting upon pub- 
lique notice given the day before, 
it was ordered and agreed upon, 
viz.: 

Imprimis. That Hogg Island 
shall be lotted out unto the inhab- 
itants and freemen of this town, 
according to the number of names 
in every family, by John Copall, 
Wm. Brenton and John Lamford, 
and that none shall fell any wood 
there untill the same shall be lotted 
out. 

Item. That Edmund Quinsey, 
Samuel Wilbore, Wm. Roston, Ed- 
mund Hutchinson, the elder, and 
Wm. Cheesborough, the constable, 
shall make and assess all these 



136 



APPENDIX. 



10th month, 
daye 8th. 
Mr. Willson. 



Mount 
Wollaston. 



rates, viz., a rate for 30£ to Mr. 
Blackstone, a rate for cowes keep- 
ing, a rate for the goates keeping, 
and other charges in work there- 
about, and for loste income and 
water for the young cattle keeping 
at Muddy River. 

Att a general meeting upon pub- 
lique notice — 

Imprimis. It was ordered that 
Mr. Willson, the pastor, (in lieu of 
his land granted him at the North 
river by Mystick, which he shall 
passe over to the towne of Boston,) 
shall have as much land at Mount 
Wollaston at his election and after, 
so much as shall be his portion of 
other lands belonging to this towne, 
to be layed him out so near his 
other lands at Mount Wollaston as 
may be for his conveniency. 



H 107 89 










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#N0V 89 
N. MANCHESTER, 
INDIANA 46962 




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